CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Assessments: Absenteeism

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the year 9 absence rate was in each of the schools which reported an absence rate of 5 per cent. or more in respect of key stage 3 national tests; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The requested information has been placed in the House Library.

Children in Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what percentage of children in the care system are from ethnic minorities;
	(2)  how many children were adopted in  (a) Aylesbury Vale district and  (b) England in 2007;
	(3)  how many respite care home places were available for disabled children in  (a) Aylesbury Vale district and  (b) England in 2007;
	(4)  how many foster care placements there were in  (a) Aylesbury Vale district and  (b) England in 2007.

Kevin Brennan: Information on Aylesbury Vale (Buckinghamshire) is not collected centrally. Where the question refers to Aylesbury Vale we have provided statistical information on Buckinghamshire as a whole.
	Information on the numbers and percentages of children looked after in the care system, broken down by ethnicity over the last five years is shown in the following table. The information is taken from the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled 'Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007'. The SFR is located at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index .shtml.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March by ethnic origin, 2003-07( 1,2,3) , England 
			  Number and Percentage 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5)  2003( 4)  2004( 5)  2005( 5)  2006( 5)  2007( 5) 
			  All children looked after at 31 March( 1,2) 61,200 61,200 61,000 60,300 60,000 100 100 100 100 100 
			
			  Ethnic origin   
			  White:   
			 White British 47,300 46,300 45,9090 45,000 44,700 77 76 75 75 74 
			 White Irish 580 520 500 440 400 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Any other White background 1,800 1,900 1,800 1,600 1,500 3 3 3 3 3 
			
			  Mixed:   
			 White and Black Caribbean 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 3 3 3 3 3 
			 White and Black African 400 410 440 430 440 1 1 1 1 1 
			 White and Asian 750 720 720 750 770 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Any other mixed background 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 3 3 3 3 3 
			
			  Asian or Asian British:   
			 Indian 300 300 280 300 290 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Pakistani 510 520 580 610 660 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Bangladeshi 200 230 270 280 280 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Any other Asian background 320 480 650 880 1,000 1 1 1 1 2 
			
			  Black or Black British:   
			 Caribbean 1,600 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,600 3 3 3 3 3 
			 African 1,800 2,300 2,400 2,400 2,300 3 4 4 4 4 
			 Any other Black background 870 880 900 900 880 1 1 1 1 1 
			
			  Other ethnic groups:   
			 Chinese 80 120 120 120 130 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Any other ethnic group 750 840 900 1,000 1,200 1 1 1 2 2 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Figures are derived from the SSDA 903 one-third sample survey. (5) Figures are taken from the SSDA 903 return which, since 2003-04, has covered all children looked after. 
		
	
	The number of children looked after that were adopted during the year ending 31 March in  (a) Buckinghamshire was 10, and  (b) England was 3,300.
	Information on the number of respite care home places which were available for disabled children in  (a) Aylesbury Vale and  (b) England in 2007 is not collected centrally. However, the numbers of children looked after under an agreed series of short-term breaks (respite), who were placed in a children's home or similar establishment at 31 March 2007, in Buckinghamshire and England, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Children looked after at 31 March 2007, in respite care by placement in care homes( 1,2) , England 
			  Number 
			Homes and hostels  Other establishments 
			   Total  subject to Children's Homes regulations  not subject to Children's Homes regulations  Residential care homes  NHS Trust providing medical/nursing care 
			 England 4,200 3,700 10 330 170 
			 Buckinghamshire 10 10 0 0 0 
			 (1) Source: return on children looked after. (2) Figures at national level have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. Figures at local authority level have been rounded to the nearest five or if zero are shown as zero. 
		
	
	The number of looked after children in foster care placements at 31 March 2007 in  (a) Buckinghamshire was 205 and  (b) England was 42,300.

Children: Day-care

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure childcare providers have security of funding for the duration of study courses being taken by their employees; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: As set out in our children's plan we have a long-term commitment to have a world class early years system. To improve the quality and training of the early years workforce we have committed an investment of £505 million in a graduate leader. Fund of which £232 million has been allocated for settings via local authorities to introduce more graduate leadership of early years setting in the private, voluntary and independent sectors.
	Funding to support training and continuous professional development for the wider workforce (for example up to Level 5 and to work with children with additional needs) is included within the Outcomes, Quality and Inclusion block of the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant (which is £439 million). The funding is not ring-fenced so that local authorities have the decision how to allocate spend depending on local needs. Section 13 of the Childcare Act 2006 however, states that local authorities have a duty to secure the provision of information, advice and training for childcare providers.

Children: Obesity

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of trends in the numbers of children diagnosed as  (a) obese and  (b) morbidly obese; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available in the exact format requested.
	Data on the prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 15 between 1995 and 2006 can be found in the 'Health Survey for England 2006 latest trends', published 31 January 2008. The data are presented in table 4 (obesity) of the Children trend tables 2006. This publication is available in the Library.
	The classification system used for measuring obesity in children does not have a definition for morbidly obese.

Pre-School Education

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the take-up rate of the early years education entitlement in each local authority for the most recent period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds is shown in the following table.
	All three and four-year-olds have been entitled to a free part-time early education place for 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. From 2010, this offer will be extended from 12.5 to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 19/2007 "Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2007", available on my Department's website:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/
	
		
			  Part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds England, position in January each year, 2007 data as at 22 May 
			   Part-time equivalent funded places filled  Population estimates  Part-time equivalent funded places filled per 100 children in the population 
			  England 1,054,800 1,150,675 91.7 
			 
			  North East 51,830 53,855 96.2 
			 Darlington 2,300 2,355 97.7 
			 Durham 9,560 10,165 94.0 
			 Gateshead 3,805 4,040 94.2 
			 Hartlepool 2,055 2,095 98.1 
			 Middlesbrough 3,360 3,290 102.2 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 5,280 5,575 94.7 
			 North Tyneside 4,040 4,095 98.7 
			 Northumberland 6,045 6,220 97.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,915 3,010 96.9 
			 South Tyneside 2,790 2,970 93.9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 4,045 4,175 96.9 
			 Sunderland 5,635 5,865 96.0 
			 
			  Northwest 143,885 153,545 93.7 
			 Blackburn with Daren 3,775 4,190 90.1 
			 Blackpool 2,735 2,950 92.8 
			 Bolton 6,425 6,540 98.2 
			 Bury 4,120 4,365 94.4 
			 Cheshire 13,385 14,345 93.3 
			 Cumbria 9,265 9,645 96.0 
			 Halton 2,540 2,905 87.5 
			 Knowsley 3,375 3,545 95.2 
			 Lancashire 22,570 24,885 90.7 
			 Liverpool 9,140 9,495 96.3 
			 Manchester 10.380 10,735 96.7 
			 Oldham 5,670 6,055 93.6 
			 Rochdale 4,775 5,220 91.5 
			 Salford 4,790 4,895 97.9 
			 Sefton 5,395 5,600 96.4 
			 St. Helens 3,505 3,825 91.7 
			 Stockport 5,645 5,975 94.5 
			 Tameside 4,520 4,930 91.7 
			 Trafford 4,865 5,150 94.5 
			 Warrington 4,305 4,450 96.8 
			 Wigan 6,140 6,890 89.1 
			 Wirral 6,555 6,965 94.1 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 107,915 114,650 94.1 
			 Barnsley 4,675 4,860 96.2 
			 Bradford 13,315 14,645 90.9 
			 Calderdale 4,625 4,685 98.7 
			 Doncaster 6,035 6,640 90.9 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 5,985 6,530 91.7 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 5,225 5,395 96.8 
			 Kirklees 9,085 10,255 88.6 
			 Leeds 15,185 15,495 98.0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3,405 3,525 96.5 
			 North Lincolnshire 3,160 3,445 91.8 
			 North Yorkshire 11,095 11,775 94.2 
			 Rotherham 5,355 5,740 93.3 
			 Sheffield 10,690 11,105 96.3 
			 Wakefield 6,715 7,005 95.8 
			 York 3,375 3,550 95.1 
			 
			  East Midlands 87,865 94,710 92.8 
			 Derby 5,655 5,565 101.6 
			 Derbyshire 14,460 15,500 93.3 
			 Leicester 7,295 7,895 92.4 
			 Leicestershire 11,725 13,680 85.7 
			 Lincolnshire 12,390 13,195 93.9 
			 Northamptonshire 14,350 16,050 89.4 
			 Nottingham 6,135 6,050 101.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 15,150 16,100 94.1 
			 Rutland 710 675 105.0 
			 
			  West Midlands 116,220 125,165 92.9 
			 Birmingham 25,180 28,445 88.5 
			 Coventry 6,825 7,175 95.2 
			 Dudley 6,610 6,855 96.5 
			 Herefordshire 3,125 3,445 90.7 
			 Sandwell 6,955 7,525 92.4 
			 Shropshire 5,725 5,670 100.9 
			 Solihull 4,385 4,280 102.4 
			 Staffordshire 15,470 16,885 91.6 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 5,255 5,465 96.1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3,710 4,020 92.3 
			 Walsall 6,160 6,500 94.7 
			 Warwickshire 10,430 11,340 92.0 
			 Wolverhampton 5,465 5,710 95.7 
			 Worcestershire 10,925 11,850 92.2 
			 
			  East of England 114,385 127,180 89.9 
			 Bedfordshire 8,630 9,610 89.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 11,360 13,045 87.1 
			 Essex 26,420 30,005 88.0 
			 Hertfordshire 23,995 25,420 94.4 
			 Luton 5,135 5,565 92.3 
			 Norfolk 14,750 16,330 90.3 
			 Peterborough 4,005 4,250 94.2 
			 Southend-on-Sea 3,455 3,740 92.3 
			 Suffolk 13,245 15,380 86.1 
			 Thurrock 3,385 3,830 88.4 
			 
			  London 171,805 193,210 88.9 
			  Inner London( 1) 67,615 78,165 86.5 
			 Camden 4,080 5,140 79.4 
			 Hackney 5,685 6,930 82.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,590 4,030 89.1 
			 Haringey 5,875 6,390 91.9 
			 Islington 4,040 4,100 98:5 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,515 4,110 61.2 
			 Lambeth 6,390 7,285 87.7 
			 Lewisham 5,680 6,475 87.7 
			 Newham 7,735 8,410 92.0 
			 Southwark 6,220 6,990 89.0 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,020 6,710 89.7 
			 Wandsworth 6,205 6.745 92.0 
			 Westminster 3,470 4,735 73.3 
			  Outer London 104,190 115,045 90.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,405 4,985 88.4 
			 Barnet 7,295 8,550 85.3 
			 Bexley 4,725 5,160 91.5 
			 Brent 6,110 7,065 86.5 
			 Bromley 6,215 6,960 89.3 
			 Croydon 7,735 8,550 90.5 
			 Ealing 7,225 7,680 94.1 
			 Enfield 6,615 7,675 86.2 
			 Greenwich 6,005 6,330 94.9 
			 Harrow 4,325 5,280 81.9 
			 Havering 4,495 4,850 92.6 
			 Hillingdon 6,285 6,340 99.1 
			 Hounslow 4,845 5,740 84.4 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,140 3,470 90.5 
			 Merton 4,380 4,615 94.9 
			 Redbridge 6,360 6,670 95.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,200 4,720 89.0 
			 Sutton 3,810 4,010 95.0 
			 Waltham Forest 6,025 6,395 94.2 
			 
			  Southeast 166,190 184,105 90.3 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,380 2,660 89.4 
			 Brighton and Hove 4,975 5,255 94.7 
			 Buckinghamshire 10,840 11,550 93.9 
			 East Sussex 8,760 10,075 87.0 
			 Hampshire 24,450 27,490 88.9 
			 Isle of Wight 2,2,10 2,510 88.0 
			 Kent 27,675 31,215 88.7 
			 Medway 5,710 6,235 91.6 
			 Milton Keynes 5,525 6,005 92.0 
			 Oxfordshire 13,170 14,345 91.8 
			 Portsmouth 3,985 4,010 99.4 
			 Reading 3,210 3,360 95.6 
			 Slough 3,180 3,390 93.8 
			 Southampton 4,210 4,550 92.5 
			 Surrey 22,145 24,935 88.8 
			 West Berkshire 3,065 3,475 88.2 
			 West Sussex 14,515 16,340 88.8 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,930 3,220 91.0 
			 Wokingham 3,240 3,485 92.9 
			 
			  Southwest 94,705 104,250 90.8 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3,135 3,370 93.0 
			 Bournemouth 2,730 2,975 91.8 
			 Bristol, City of 8,085 8,770 92.2 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 9,230 10,090 91.5 
			 Devon 12,425 13,745 90,4 
			 Dorset 6,615 7,385 89.6 
			 Gloucestershire 10,950 12,170 90.0 
			 North Somerset 3,770 4,225 89.2 
			 Plymouth 4,915 5,180 94.9 
			 Poole 2,410 2,760 87.3 
			 Somerset 9,670 10,675 90.6 
			 South Gloucestershire 5,120 5,695 89.9 
			 Swindon 4,060 4,430 91.6 
			 Torbay 2,385 2,625 90.8 
			 Wiltshire 9,190 10,145 90.6 
			 (1) Includes City of London  Notes: 1. A PTE place is equal to five sessions and can be filled by more than one child. A child who attends more than five sessions in any one provider is counted as doing five sessions. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 3. Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals.

Pre-School Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much and what proportion of the Graduate Leader Fund has been spent; and what guidance has been given to local authorities about how to allocate it.

Beverley Hughes: The Graduate Leader Fund (£305 million over the CSR period 2008-11) superseded the Transformation Fund on 1 April 2008. Information on the first year of spend (i.e. 2008-09) will be provided to the Department by local authorities through their audited financial statements in the autumn of 2010.
	Guidelines on the Graduate Leader Fund guidelines were issued to local authorities in March 2008. The purpose of the funding is to support all PVI full daycare settings to employ graduate leaders of early years practice by 2015. In return, settings in receipt of funding commit to employing a graduate to lead learning and development within the setting in a reasonable time period.
	The guidelines set out the Government's expectations as to how the fund should be used by local authorities in particular:
	working with PVI providers to prioritise and allocate funding in ways which best match local demand;
	passporting the grant to PVI providers;
	providers being able to use funding as a contribution to salary costs and for further continuous professional development for graduates and those training towards becoming graduate early years professionals.

Schools: Computers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of children in maintained schools who have access to computers at school.

Jim Knight: Over 99 per cent. of schools report having computers available for teaching and learning. In primary schools, there is on average one computer for every 5.7 pupils, and in secondary schools one computer for every 3.2 pupils.

Schools: Cricket

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for cricket in state schools.

Kevin Brennan: The annual School Sport Survey was introduced in 2003-04 and collects data relating to participation in PE and school sport. The latest survey found that 90 per cent. (up from 85 per cent. in 2003-04) of maintained schools in England provided cricket during the academic year. The survey also found that 56 per cent. (up from 45 per cent. in 2003-04) of schools were linked to a local cricket club.

Youth Services: Local Government Finance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding in real terms his Department and its predecessors have provided to Lancashire county council for youth services in the last 10 years; how much of that sum was spent in West Lancashire constituency; and what percentage of the allocation to Lancashire county council that represents.

Kevin Brennan: Local authorities in England are not allocated money specifically for youth services. It is up to local authorities to decide how much of their overall funding they wish to allocate to youth services based on their own individual needs and circumstances. However, the following table includes how much Lancashire LA has budgeted for youth services in each of the last nine financial years (budget data are not available prior to the inception of Section 52 for the 1999-2000 financial year). Financial data on youth services are collected at a local authority level and as such we are unable to say how much of Lancashire's budgeted funding for youth services has been spent in the West Lancashire constituency.
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure by Lancashire LA on youth services 
			  £ 
			   Cash terms  Real terms 
			 1999-2000 7,192,000 8,549,000 
			 2000-01 7,610,000 8,918,000 
			 2001-02 7,532,000 8,620,000 
			 2002-03 7,884,000 8,750,000 
			 2003-04 8,067,000 8,700,000 
			 2004-05 9,440,000 9,908,000 
			 2005-06 10,014,000 10,288,000 
			 2008-07 12,772,000 12,772,000 
			 2007-08 12,251,000 11,865,000

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education: Finance

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of UK-born British passport-holding students refused access to concessionary rates of education at UK universities as a result of residence with UK national parents temporarily based overseas for three to five year employment contracts.

Bill Rammell: There is no record kept of such cases. Generally, UK nationals who have temporarily resided overseas because their parents have undertaken temporary employment contracts are eligible to pay the capped rate of fee and to student support.
	UK nationals can be treated as ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands if they would have been so resident but for the fact that they or certain family members, including their parents, were temporarily employed elsewhere; so long as they are ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first academic year of their course.

Students: Grants

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many undergraduates qualified for maintenance grants of  (a) £2,765,  (b) £2,417,  (c) £1,548,  (d) £1,230,  (e) £927,  (f) £401 and  (g) £50 for the 2007-08 academic year; and how many received no grant.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 6 May 2008
	The number of undergraduates qualified for maintenance grants for the academic year 2007/08 is not available at the level of detail requested. However the 2007/08 mid-year provisional data were published by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release of 27 November 2007 available at
	http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national_statistics.html
	The table gives the relevant information.
	
		
			  Distribution of maintenance grants to English domiciled students 207/08 (provisional early figures). 
			   Students( 1) 
			 Full Maintenance Grant(2) 158,000 
			 Partial Maintenance Grant 110,000 
			 Nil Maintenance Grant 217,000 
			 Total 485,000 
			 (1 )Excludes students who do not apply to SLC for support. Excludes those not eligible for a maintenance grant because they receive an NHS bursary. (2) Full grant includes ITT students receiving the full reduced grant (£1,382).  Source:  Student Loans Company. 
		
	
	In July 2007 the Secretary of State announced increases to the means-testing threshold below which students are entitled to a full maintenance grant—up from £17,910 for entrants in 2007/08 to £25,000 for entrants in 2008/09. The threshold for a partial grant will increase from £38,330 for entrants in 2007/08 to £60,005 for entrants in 2008/09. These thresholds relate to household residual income. This will mean that one third of all eligible students in England entering higher education in the academic year 2008/09 are expected to be entitled to a full non-repayable grant worth £2,835 and another one third are expected to be entitled to a partial grant of between £50 and £2,835. Due to these reforms, by 2011, the number of students receiving some level of grant will increase by around 100,000. As part of this change, an extra 50,000 students will receive a full grant.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when in 2008 the Government Equalities Office will be the subject of an equal pay audit.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office is currently working towards a single set of terms and conditions for its staff. That work will be completed in the summer and the equal pay audit will follow.

Departmental Responsibilities

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what work has been conducted by the Government Equalities Office on  (a) race,  (b) age,  (c) sex and  (d) disability discrimination since its inception, excluding work conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Women's National Commission, and the former Equalities Commissions and other Government Departments.

Barbara Follett: In his statement of 26 July 2007, the Prime Minister made clear the remit of the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and confirmed which Departments would retain responsibility for disability and race issues. The GEO has undertaken a range of work relevant to race, age, sex and disability discrimination, including consulting on proposals for a new Equality Bill, and taking lead responsibility for the Equalities PSA. Further details of the work of the GEO will be detailed in the departmental report which will be published in due course.

Equal Opportunities

David Drew: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she plans to take to promote good practice in employment opportunity through the report and list of good employers recently published by the Government.

Barbara Follett: In their report "Shaping a Fairer Future" (published February 2006) The Women and Work Commission recommended that the Government, with the help of partners like Opportunity Now, should build up a set of exemplar companies who would be prepared to pilot projects to tackle the causes of the gender pay gap.
	The Government responded by setting up such a programme, run under contract by Opportunity Now, the gender arm of Business in the Community. A list of 113 exemplar employers was compiled and published as an online report in March 2008.
	The Government Equalities Office will continue to work with Opportunity Now and other partners in sharing and disseminating lessons learned from the Exemplar Employers programme. We are presently in discussion with Opportunity Now on next steps.

Prostitution: Foreign Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the number of women working as sex workers in the UK whose countries of origin are  (a) other EU member states and  (b) overseas states; and if she will give a breakdown of the principal countries of origin in each case.

Barbara Follett: Due to the hidden nature of prostitution, reliable statistics on the numbers involved and their countries of origin are difficult to obtain. Estimates suggest that at any one time in 2003 there were approximately 4,000 victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK. However, no research has been undertaken which would provide either evidence or provide a basis for estimates on the number of women working as sex workers in the UK whose countries of origin are  (a) other EU member states  (b) other overseas states.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

DNA: International Cooperation

David Davis: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2008,  Official Report, column 387W, on DNA: international cooperation, when the Crown Prosecution Service inquiry into the lost disc containing DNA profiles of Dutch criminals is now expected to be concluded.

Vera Baird: holding answer 8 May 2008
	 : The report on the inquiry is being published today along with a written ministerial statement.

Public Prosecution Service: Londonderry

Mark Durkan: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made on the  (a) plans and  (b) timescale for the opening of the regional office of the Public Prosecution Service in Derry; what the proposed (i) staffing complement and (ii) service areas are; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The proposed Public Prosecution Service, Derry Northern Regional Office is located at 35 Limavady Road, Londonderry. The building will be a three-storey office building with 30 car parking spaces on a site dedicated to the PPS.
	Work commenced on the building shell in January 2008. The programme of work will be completed in September 2008 with the building becoming fully operational in October 2008.
	The building will be known as Foyle Chambers and will accommodate 50 PPS staff.
	At present the Northern Regional Office is being operated from offices in Coleraine and Ballymena Chambers.
	The service areas for Foyle Chambers are Derry, Magherafelt and Limavady.

Public Prosecution Service: Newry

Mark Durkan: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made on the  (a) plans and  (b) timescale for the opening of the regional office of the Public Prosecution Service in Newry; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: PPS has identified a suitable site on the Belfast Road, Newry that would enable the PPS to provide a Southern Regional Office that meets PPS office accommodation and car parking requirements within the revised PPS timescale autumn 2009.
	Land and Property Services (Valuation) have agreed provisional and outline terms in respect of proposals to lease the building on this Belfast Road site. This agreement is 'Without Prejudice and Subject to Contract' which includes planning permission being granted.
	The developer has made a submission to the planners based on the new 'Pre Application Discussion for Strategic Projects and Major Housing, Commercial, Industrial and Public Sector Proposals'. A favourable response has been received which will permit the developer to submit a formal planning application on 21 May 2008. This new fast-tracked planning process anticipates that planning permission could be achieved in August 2008. On receipt of the planning permission the building will take nine to 12 months to become operational.
	The Southern Regional Office is presently being sustained from Belfast until the Southern Regional Office is opened in Newry.

Television: Telephone Services

Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will refer to the Serious Fraud Office recent allegations of television broadcaster misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting.

Vera Baird: I am aware that four allegations of television broadcaster misconduct have been considered by the SFO, although those referrals did not arise from my Office.
	A decision was made by the former director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, not to commence formal investigations into two of these allegations. The remaining two allegations are still undergoing consideration. The director of the SFO will make a decision on these in due course.

Television: Telephone Services

Don Foster: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Serious Fraud Office plans to investigate the recent cases of television broadcaster misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Four separate allegations of misconduct by television broadcasters have been raised with the SFO since October 2007. A decision was made by the former Director of the SFO, Robert Wardle, not to commence formal investigations into two of these allegations. The remaining two allegations are still undergoing consideration. The Director of the SFO will make a decision on these in due course.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to improve artistic links between the United Kingdom and Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: I am aware that there have been and will be strong artistic links between the UK and Israel and I welcome this. There are no unique barriers to organisations in forming artistic links between our two countries. I have not therefore taken, nor do I plan to take, any special steps to improve artistic links with Israel, over and above those normally in place.

Cultural Heritage: Shipping

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has powers to invoke legal measures to protect historic sea or river vessels where a registered owner does not demonstrate a duty of care.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The Secretary of State has no such powers in relation to historic sea or river vessels except where they are permanent land-based listed structures. Such vessels may be designated as listed buildings or scheduled ancient monuments if they meet relevant criteria.

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many statutory instruments have been  (a) made and  (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1997 Ministers in DCMS have made the following number of statutory instruments each calendar year.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 27(1) 
			 1998 23 
			 1999 23 
			 2000 19 
			 200 17 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 28 
			 2004 32 
			 2005 49 
			 2006 58 
			 2007 65 
			 2008 11(2) 
			 (1) Eight prior to 1 May, 19 thereafter. (2) To 15 May 2008 
		
	
	The number of statutory instruments revoked by Ministers in DCMS since 1997 can be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

Gambling: Internet

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with  (a) the European Commission and  (b) other EU member states on the effect of US law on EU business interests in the United States, with particular reference to (i) online gambling companies and (ii) companies providing financial services to the online gambling sector.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK remained in close contact with the European Commission in connection with the negotiation of an agreed compensation package following the US Administration's decision to withdraw from a World Trade Organisation commitment to provide access to the US online gambling market to non-US companies.
	The European Commission is now investigating the United States' ban on remote gambling and its enforcement action against UK and European companies for activities conducted in the US as a result of a complaint under the Trade Barriers Regulation made by the UK gambling industry. The UK Government welcome the European Commission's decision to investigate and we await their conclusions with interest.

Gambling: Internet

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Indian Government on the effect of US law on the operation of UK businesses in the online gambling sector; and with what other governments outside the EU he has discussed the issue.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK has not had discussions with the Indian Government or other governments outside the EU on the effect of US law on the operation of businesses in the online gambling sector.

Gambling: Internet

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what restrictions apply to US companies in the UK online gambling sector; and what assessment he has made of the development of online gambling services in the UK by US companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Only companies that are licensed in the UK, in an EEA state or Gibraltar, or in the jurisdictions permitted by the Secretary of State under section 331 of the Gambling Act 2005—currently the Isle of Man, Alderney and Tasmania—are permitted to advertise online gambling services in the UK.
	No US jurisdictions are currently permitted to advertise online gambling services in the UK. That means that no US companies licensed in a US jurisdiction are able to advertise online gambling services here.
	The UK Government have not made any assessment of the development of online gambling services in the UK by US companies.

PRIME MINISTER

China: Earthquakes

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister what message he sent to the Government of China following the earthquake in Chongqing.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave at my monthly press conference on 15 May 2008. A transcript is available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page15580.asp
	and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Dalai Lama

Kate Hoey: To ask the Prime Minister what the reasons are for the choice of venue for his forthcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when the Dalai Lama has met the holder of his Office in Downing Street during the past 30 years;
	(2)  where he plans to meet the Dalai Lama during his forthcoming visit.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Members' to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross) at Prime Minister's questions on 14 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1381-82.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Data Protection

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether the data held by special advisers are the responsibility of the  (a) Permanent Secretary of each Government Department or  (b) Cabinet Secretary for the purposes of the (i) Data Protection Act 1998 and (ii) Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Gordon Brown: Special advisers are subject to the requirements of legislation in the same way as other civil servants.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with  (a) the London Development Agency and  (b) the Olympic Delivery Authority on the educational legacy of the 2012 Olympic games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I meet with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Development Agency (LDA) regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the legacy of the games.
	In addition, the Minister for Schools and I have also appointed Ian Stewart, an independent reviewer, to lead a review into a potential educational legacy at the Olympic stadium. He has been consulting with the ODA and LDA, among other key stakeholders, including community groups, and will report to Ministers at the end of June.

Olympic Games 2012: Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the 2012 Olympic games one planet pavilion will have an educational focus; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is currently considering the pavilion's content but has confirmed it will include an educational component. LOCOG will consult with the London Development Agency (LDA) and other stakeholders, including the five host boroughs, to ensure that potential legacy applications are taken into account.

WALES

Scotland Office and Northern Ireland Office: Co-ordination

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has had discussions with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland on the co-ordination of the work of his Department, the Scotland Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

Paul Murphy: I have held discussions with both my territorial colleagues reflecting our wish to work closely on matters of common interest.

Post Office Network

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the post office network in Wales.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We have invested £2 billion in Post Office Ltd. since 1999, and are committed to invest a further £1.7 billion in the network over the next five years.
	This Government's proposals will ensure a truly nationwide network and recognise the important social and economic role that post offices play in communities across the country.

Housing Market Trends

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effects of trends in the housing market in Wales on the Welsh economy.

Paul Murphy: Wales is not immune to the current slowing down in the housing market as seen in the rest of the UK and across the world. We have good reason to remain optimistic about the Welsh economy despite the present challenges facing the global economy.

Children's Commissioners for Wales and England: Co-ordination

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the co-ordination of the work of the Children's Commissioners for Wales and England.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have arranged a meeting with the new children's commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, to discuss a range of issues, including co-ordination with the children's commissioner for England.
	I also have regular contact with the deputy children's commissioner for Wales, Maria Battle.

North East Wales: Contribution to UK Economy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the contribution of north-east Wales to the UK economy.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The continued success of and contribution made by north-east Wales is an important part, not only of the Welsh economy, but of the UK's as a whole.

Joint Ministerial Committee

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in reinvigorating the Joint Ministerial Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have met the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland, to discuss how best to re-establish the committee. We aim to hold a meeting of the Committee before the summer. I believe it offers a way of operating devolution arrangements in the United Kingdom better, for everyone's benefit.

Unemployment

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on levels of unemployment in Wales.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on a wide range of issues, including the employment situation in Wales.

TRANSPORT

Shipping: Safety

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Council of Ministers has made on a common framework for the permanent exclusion by member states of vessels in repeated breach of EU safety regulations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK already has a framework for restricting vessel access to UK ports which is set out in The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 1995 [SI 1995 No. 3128 as amended] and the associated Merchant Shipping Notice 1775 (M).
	The original proposal of the recast of the EU Directive on Port State Control, one of the Third Maritime Safety Package proposals, included provisions to permanently ban vessels which have been detained for a third time following inspection at a Community port. The Council was not persuaded that a permanent ban was proportionate or legally enforceable. It considered that ships which have been banned under the terms of the directive should be allowed back into Community ports once stringent safety criteria, including a further inspection of the ship concerned, have been satisfied.

Shipping: Safety

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the progress made by EU member states on implementing the provisions of the Erika II legislative package enabling the competent authorities in member states to prevent ships from setting sail in very bad weather.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK has implemented these provisions.
	Regulation 13 of the Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2004 covers measures to be taken in the event of exceptionally bad weather or sea conditions.
	The Government also have procedures in place so that if an incident is reported to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, a counter pollution and response officer and, if necessary, the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) will be alerted.
	The Government have made no assessment of the progress made by other EU member states in implementing these provisions.

Tolls

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the work of the CURACAO User Group; whether she has allocated resources to the project in relation to road pricing schemes; what discussions she has had with the project on advice to local authorities on road pricing; what assessment she has made of the contribution of the project to the development of proposals for road pricing schemes in England; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: CURACAO is a European Commission funded project which aims to co-ordinate research and monitor the results of the implementation of road user charging as a demand management tool in urban areas. The Department has had no direct contact with the Commission about the project, nor allocated funding, but officials have provided some input to the project at a technical level to ITS (university of Leeds) and Transport Travel and Research, two of the three UK-based project partners in CURACAO. The Department has had no discussions with them on our advice to local authorities and has made no assessment of the project.

Transport Appraisal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the methodology used in the New Approach to Transport Appraisal treats a decision by an individual to leave his or her vehicle at home and use public transport as a disbenefit; and if she will take steps to change this attribution.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 May 2008
	The methodology recommended in the New Approach To Appraisal (NATA) does not treat a decision by an individual to leave his or her vehicle at home and use public transport as a disbenefit.
	Instead, an assumption of appraisal is that a decision of this sort largely reflects the individual comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the form of transport they choose, in terms of journey time, journey costs and, in some circumstances, measures of other journey characteristics such as crowding, and judging there to be an overall 'benefit' through changing from one mode to another.
	However, costs and benefits under the NATA methodology are not assessed only from the view of the transport user as there may be further impacts on transport providers, the Government, wider society or the environment. NATA seeks to ensure that all impacts are taken into account to give a complete picture.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 47W, on capital gains tax, if he will estimate the revenue implications of taxing capital gains at the same marginal rates as income tax with indexation from April 2008.

Jane Kennedy: A reform of this kind would result in a large behavioural response and as such estimates are susceptible to a wide margin of error.
	A broad estimate of the eventual steady state impact, taking account of the likely taxpayer response to such a change, is additional receipts in the order of 2 billion a year by comparison with the capital gains tax regime contained in the Finance Bill 2008.

Child Tax Credit Helpline

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long the standard training period for staff joining the Child Tax Credits Helpline service is.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC operates the tax credits Helpline. This covers both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 31 January 2008,  Official Report , column 683W.

Child Tax Credits

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average it takes for his Department to process an application for child tax credit.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) aim to pay 60 per cent. of all new Child and Working Tax Credit claims in 15 calendar days and all new claims in 20 calendar days

Council Tax: Wales

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1688W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in Wales received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency representative as part of the 2005 council tax revaluation.

Jane Kennedy: Details as to the number of properties visited by the VOA as part of the 2005 council tax revaluation cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of salaries for  (a) permanent civil service posts,  (b) permanent non-civil service posts and  (c) temporary or agency workers in his Department in each month since May 2005.

Angela Eagle: Details of the wages and salaries paid by the Department to permanent staff, Ministers and special advisors and other staff are shown in Table 6.1 of the Treasury's Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06 (HC 1344) and 2006-07 (HC 518). Copies of the documents can be found at:
	hm-treasury.gov.uk
	A monthly breakdown of the figures could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost would be of reintroducing the 10 pence tax band with effect from the beginning of the 2008-09 financial year.

Jane Kennedy: Reintroducing the 10p starting rate for non-savings income would cost around 6.7 billion for 2008-09. This estimate assumes the personal allowance had remained at 5,435 and not been increased by 600 as announced by the Chancellor on Tuesday 13 May.

Members: Correspondence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 12 March from the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on the small and medium enterprises threshold for the purposes of the research and development tax credit in relation to Allergy Therapeutics in Worthing.

Angela Eagle: As I believe the hon. Member knows, the Treasury has no record of having received his letter. A copy has been requested and will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff of HM Revenue and Customs have had forensic accounting duties in each year since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A large number of HMRC staff have forensic accounting duties in a wide variety of roles.

Shares: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on illegal share sales by boiler room operations; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The Chancellor meets senior members of the FSA on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of economic and financial issues.
	Other Treasury Ministers are also closely engaged with the FSA, other Government departments and law enforcement agencies in discussions on counter-fraud work. An inter-ministerial group met in April, for instance to discuss priorities for the National Fraud Strategic Authority.

Trusts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many trusts became resident in the UK as a result of the trust modernisation programme changes effected on 6 April 2007.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available.

Valuation Office: Surveys

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's most recent staff survey.

Jane Kennedy: A copy of the agency's most recent staff survey has been placed in the Library.

Welfare Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether requests for TC647 forms are recorded by the Tax Credit Office or HM Revenue and Customs; how many TC647 forms were sent to tax credit claimants in each year since their introduction; and how many claimants have been sent them.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 15 May 2008
	Requests for TC647 forms are recorded on each individual customer's tax credit record and it is not possible to provide the number of requests.
	The number of TC647 forms issued in the last four years was:
	
		
			   Number of forms TC647 issued 
			 2004-05 58,486 
			 2005-06 60,899 
			 2006-07 11,619 
			 2007-08 1,603 
		
	
	Information is not available for 2003-04.
	The marked reduction in the numbers of TC647s issued in 2006-07 and 2007-08 illustrates the improvements made to the award notice from April 2006, which now provide the information tax credits customers need to help them better understand their awards.
	This information corrects the figure provided on 29 November 2005,  Official Report, column 348W

SCOTLAND

Departmental Official Hospitality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many receptions he has hosted and funded in his capacity as Secretary of State in the last 12 months; which individuals and organisations  (a) were invited to and  (b) attended each reception; and what the cost was of each reception.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has published information about some hospitality events in its annual report for 2008. The Office plans to publish a full list of events in future annual reports. The Secretary of State hosted a total of nine events during financial year 2007-08 and the total cost for these in the last financial year is 28,719.95. The Office does not hold a full list of those guests invited or who attended these events.

DEFENCE

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: All civilian apprenticeships are advanced. In 2006-07, there were 5,326 military apprentices in the Ministry of Defence. There were 1,973 advanced military apprentices, 234 advanced civilian apprentices and 282 advanced apprentices in agencies.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Hearing Impaired

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates since 1992 his Department has undertaken studies into the potential damage to hearing from prolonged driving of armoured vehicles.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been no studies specifically into hearing damage from prolonged driving of armoured vehicles. Noise exposure assessments are however undertaken and suitable protection provided.

Cyprus

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 48WS, on UN Forces (Cyprus), what the cap badge will be of the 250 reservists.

Bob Ainsworth: Individuals will be selected from within 2 Division, based largely upon HQ 32 Signal Regiment. The process of selection and training of reservists to serve on the next deployment for Operation Tosca with the UN in Cyprus will culminate in full notice of call-out (which is a minimum of 28 days) prior to their mobilisation. This will not need to take place until later this year, and until then, I cannot confirm which cap badges will be worn. When the units deploy they will all wear the UN blue beret and UN cap badge.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many freedom of information requests made to his Department were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformation quarterly.htm
	Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days are not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered in time (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 87 per cent.
	For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was 390, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to information available by other means are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.

Departmental Publications

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the Ministry of Defence quarterly performance reports from each year since 1997.

Des Browne: The Department has published an annual performance report (since 2002-03 the annual report and accounts) setting out its end year performance since 1996-97. Copies are available in the Library of the House. The Department has also published quarterly performance reports on its website since the fourth quarter of 2003-04. These can be found at:
	http://www.mod.uk/Defencelnternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ModPSASD AandTechnicalNotes.htm
	Where these have comprised the formal autumn or spring performance reports, copies were automatically placed in the Library of the House at the time of publication. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House of any quarterly reports that have been published on the Department's website but not previously placed in the Library.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of the helicopter fleet is  (a) in service,  (b) in the forward fleet and  (c) fit for purpose, broken down by (i) service and (ii) helicopter type.

Bob Ainsworth: The number and type of helicopters used by the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force which are in the Forward fleet and considered fit for purpose are detailed in the following table. Forward fleet aircraft are those that are available to the front-line command for operational and training purposes (i.e. those not in depth maintenance). Aircraft defined as fit for purpose are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
	
		
			  Helicopter type  In service (total fleet)  Average number of aircraft in Forward fleet  Percentage of total fleet in Forward fleet  Average number of aircraft fit for purpose (FFP)  FFP as a percentage of total fleet  FFP percentage of Forward fleet 
			  Royal Navy   
			 Sea King Mk 4/6c 42 31 74 15 36 48 
			 Lynx Mk 3/8 63 42 67 29 46 69 
			 Merlin Mk 1 38 24 63 20 53 83 
			 Sea King Mk 5 15 11 73 7 47 64 
			 Sea King Mk 7 13 9 69 7 54 78 
			
			  Army Air Corps   
			 Apache AH Mk 1 67 51 76 24 36 47 
			 Lynx Mk 7/9 96 54 56 31 32 57 
			 Gazelle Mk 1 67 45 67 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Augusta A109 4 4 100 4 100 100 
			
			  Royal Air Force   
			 Chinook Mk 2/2a 40 29 73 19 48 66 
			 Puma Mk 1 38 23 61 16 42 70 
			 Merlin Mk 3/3a 27 17 63 10 37 59 
			 SAR Sea King Mk 3/3a* 25 17 68 12 48 71 
		
	
	The figures shown are the average for the month of April 2008 (with the exception of the search and rescue Sea King Mk 3/3a data, which cover March 2008 due to technical problems). The number of helicopters fit for purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available.

Military Bases: Long Marston

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Engineer Depot at Long Marston was sold; what price was received; and whether there was a development uplift clause in the sale contract under which a portion of any gain in value from a grant of planning permission is to be paid to the public purse.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 6 May 2008
	The Central Engineer Resource Depot was sold in November 2004 for just over 11 million.
	The contract contains a clawback clause whereby if enhanced development worth more than 12 million is given planning approval within 20 years of the date of sale, the Ministry of Defence will receive 50 per cent. of any uplift in value.

Navy: Repairs and Maintenance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority a Royal Navy maintenance team was recently sent to Dubai; for what reasons it did not complete its scheduled job; and what the cost was.

Bob Ainsworth: Based on the information provided, I am unable to identify the occasion to which the hon. Member refers. Should he wish to write to me with more details, I will investigate this matter further.

Radioactive Wastes

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many used fuel cores from naval reactors are stored at  (a) the Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay,  (b) Devonport Dockyard,  (c) Rosyth Dockyard and  (d) Sellafield.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice national security. Ultimately, all used fuel cores will be stored at Sellafield.

RAF Weston on the Green

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to sell RAF Weston on the Green to Parkridge Holdings if proposals for the Weston Otmoor eco-town proceed; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Defence Estates officials have held informal exploratory meetings with Parkridge Holdings.
	No undertakings have been given and further discussions would be necessary were Weston-on-the-Green to be included on the final shortlist of proposed eco-towns.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: Main Building, Old War Office and St. Georges Court are smokefree. No smoking shelters have been constructed at these sites.

UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech delivered at the launch of the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation at Lancaster House on 8 May 2008.

Des Browne: The launch of the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation took place at Lancaster House on 8 April 2008. In the event, I spoke without notes, loosely based around a prepared speech, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department met the civil service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Shaun Woodward: The following tables set out how the Northern Ireland Office has performed against the civil service diversity targets set out in page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008. The Northern Ireland Office continues to work closely with Cabinet Office colleagues to achieve a diverse civil service, representative of the communities we serve.
	
		
			  SCSDiversity 
			  Percentage 
			  Women  Proportion  Target  Shortfall 
			  Top management
			 March 2008 16.7 30 13.3 
			 
			  All SCS
			 March 2008 36.4 37 0.6 
			 
			  Ethnicity
			 March 2008 2.3 4 1.7 
			 
			  Disability
			 March 2008 0 3.2 3.2 
		
	
	
		
			  SCS feeder grades 
			  Percentage 
			   Proportion  Target  Shortfall 
			  Women
			 March 2008 45.7 47.5 1.8 
			 
			  Ethnicity
			 March 2008 0 4 4 
			 
			  Disability
			 March 2008 3.2 3.2 0

Prisoners: Foreigners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign nationals were sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Data relating to the number of foreign nationals (i.e. individuals recorded as citizens of countries other than the UK or the Republic of Ireland) sentenced to immediate custody are only available for 2006. During this period there were 35 individuals recorded as foreign nationals who were sentenced to immediate custody in Northern Ireland.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign nationals were sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Data relating to the number of foreign nationals (i.e. individuals recorded as citizens of countries other than the UK or the Republic of Ireland) sentenced to immediate custody are only available for 2006. During this period there were five individuals recorded as foreign nationals who were sentenced to a term of custody of 12 months or more in Northern Ireland.

Probation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources he is providing for the Probation Service of Northern Ireland following the entry into force of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

Paul Goggins: The outcome of the CSR 2007 exercise provides the following resources to PBNI, and takes account of the changes arising from the Criminal Justice Order 2008:
	
		
			   million 
			   Programme  Capital 
			 200-09 16.778 3 
			 2009-10 18.597 1.798 
			 2010-11 19.997 1.803

Public Inquiries

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 625-6W, on public inquiries, what the cost of  (a) the Saville Inquiry,  (b) each of the other ongoing public inquiries in Northern Ireland and  (c) the Historic Enquiries Team investigations was in each of the last six months for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The costs for the last six months for which figures are available for each public inquiry under way in Northern Ireland are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  The Robert Hamill inquiry 
			
			  2007-08  Spend 
			 October 237,869 
			 November 339,931 
			 December 260,159 
			 January 330,257 
			 February 362,068 
			 March 1,175,066 
			   
			 Total 2,705,350 
		
	
	
		
			  The Rosemary Nelson inquiry 
			
			  2007-08  Spend 
			 October 1,103,919 
			 November 1,244,301 
			 December 65,047 
			 January 1,139,430 
			 February 805,001 
			 March 1,340,937 
			   
			 Total 5,698,636 
		
	
	
		
			  The Billy Wright inquiry 
			
			  2007-08  Spend 
			 October -385,450 
			 November 750,679 
			 December 566,304 
			 January 491,246 
			 February 777,436 
			 March 1,710,872 
			   
			 Total 3,911,088 
		
	
	These figures remain provisional until the 2007-08 financial year accounts are completed.
	
		
			  The Bloody Sunday inquiry 
			
			  2007-08  Actuals cash 
			 October 234,884 
			 November 462,529 
			 December 239,949 
			 January 453,054 
			 February 599,295 
			 March 365,839 
			   
			 Total 2,355,549 
		
	
	The Bloody Sunday Inquiry figures are cash spend.
	
		
			  The Historical Enquiries Team 
			   
			  2007-08  PSNI HET Spend  FSNI HET Spend  OPONI HET Spend  Total 
			 October 489,000 28,669 63,000 580,669 
			 November 476,000 102,932 69,000 647,932 
			 December 388,000 13,912 74,000 475,912 
			 January 686,000 22,000 56,000 764,000 
			 February 919,000 32,066 62,000 1,013,066 
			 March 228,000 30,588 66,000 324,588 
			  
			 Total 3,186,000 230,167 390,000 3,806,167

Security Guards: Licensing

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a person with a conviction for membership of a proscribed paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland has been granted a licence to run a private security firm since 1998.

Paul Goggins: To establish whether a licence has been granted to any individual with a conviction for membership of a proscribed paramilitary organisation would incur disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders: Females

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many females between the ages of 10 and 17 years were prosecuted in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The following table gives the number of females aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted in Northern Ireland for the calendar years 2004 to 2006 (the latest available years). If a person is prosecuted more than once on separate occasions in the same year, each separate prosecution will be included in the figures.
	
		
			  Number of females aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted 2004-06 
			   Number prosecuted 
			 2004 242 
			 2005 236 
			 2006 232

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what new resources she plans to make available to local authorities to assist the delivery of extended community empowerment under the proposed Community Empowerment Housing and Regeneration Bill, as set out in summary on pages 66 to 68 of the Government's draft legislative programme, Cm 7372.

John Healey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 5 March that she would publish a White Paper on empowerment in the summer. On 14 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government intend to introduce a Bill on Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration in the fourth Session. Any net additional costs for local authorities in England arising in this context will be funded in full.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any officials in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) alleged breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: No such breaches, or instances of inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data, have been identified in either the central Department or its Agencies during the past three years.

Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which 10 local authorities have the  (a) highest and  (b) lowest levels of deprivation; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Indices of Deprivation do not provide a single overall measure of deprivation at the local authority level thus making it difficult to identify a single list of the most or least deprived authorities.

Homelessness: Young People

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government have taken to reduce youth homelessness;
	(2)  what recent steps the Government have taken to work with schools to prevent youth homelessness.

Iain Wright: In November 2006, my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State announced a package of measures to further prevent and tackle youth homelessness. This included: a commitment that by 2010, no 16 or 17 year olds should be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by a local authority under the homelessness legislation, except in an emergency; improving access to family mediation; and establishing supported lodgings schemes for young people across the country. Since then significant progress has been made:
	6390 young people were accepted as homeless in 2006-07 (young people are 16-17 year olds, or 18-20 year old care leavers). This is down from 8350 in 2005-06.
	Around 530 16 and 17 year olds were placed in bed and breakfast by housing authorities at the end of December 2008, down from around 1000 in September 2006.
	We have provided significant investment for homelessness prevention. This includes 200 million homelessness grant funding for local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next three years. This represents the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services. We are aware that some local authorities will use their grant to target schools making pupils aware of the impact of homelessness, For example, the London borough of Lambeth will be using some of their homelessness grant towards the establishment of an educational trust to develop their innovative, young people led homelessness prevention resource, entitled 'The Prodigals' into a national preventative programme.
	We established the National Youth Homelessness scheme (NYHS) jointly led by Centrepoint and YMCA England. NYHS, has established nine regional centres of excellence to offer practical examples to neighbouring authorities of effective service models, and a website and knowledge base to offer accessible information and practical initiatives on preventing and tackling youth homelessness.
	Through this Department's specialist advisers on youth homelessness, NYHS has supported local authorities to achieve these reductions in homelessness acceptances amongst young people and the use of bed and breakfast accommodation via four workstreams: local authority strategy and partnership; homelessness prevention; accommodation and support pathways; and addressing wider needs.
	On 9 May 2008, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Children, Schools and Families launched good practice guidance on joint working between housing authorities and children's services to prevent and respond to homelessness and the wider support needs of young people.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the capability of UK manufacturers to supply technologies required to  (a) construct and  (b) operate zero-carbon homes.

Caroline Flint: The Renewables Advisory Board, an independent, non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has been considering the implications of the zero carbon policy for the supply of microgeneration technologies, including the opportunities for UK industry. Its report, The Role of Onsite Energy Generation in Delivering Zero Carbon Homes: A Study can be found at:
	www.renewables-advisory-board.org.uk/vBulletin/show thread.php?p=123#post123
	Through the 2016 Task Force, the Department will continue to work with industry to identify issues which may affect the capacity of industry to respond to the demands for zero carbon homes.

Housing: Economic Situation

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the credit crunch on  (a) the borrowing power of housing associations and  (b) the building of affordable and social housing.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 16 May 2008
	 The Housing Corporation has analysed the borrowing capacity of the sector to deliver housing associations' current business plans. It published its assessment of the housing association funding and development market on 12 May 2008. The Affordable Homes Developers Report is available on their website at:
	www.housingcorp.gov.uk
	The corporation believes that the ability to obtain finance at a reasonable price is not an immediate concern for housing associations and the longer-term outlook for private finance for affordable housing remains positive. The Department and the Housing Corporation continue to liaise with lenders and their representatives to discuss the regulatory and funding environment and its implications for lenders in the housing association sector.

Infrastructure Planning Commission: EC Law

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what regard the Infrastructure Planning Commission will have to the provisions of the European Directives on  (a) Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe and  (b) Environmental Noise in making decisions on major infrastructure projects.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 13 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1443-444W.

Infrastructure Planning Commission: Public Appointments

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what regard she will have to relevant  (a) expertise and  (b) knowledge in making appointments to the proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 13 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1444W.

Landfill Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government paid to local authorities as a landfill tax rebate in each year since 2003.

John Healey: Local authorities' costs incurred on their waste management responsibilities are funded mainly through Formula Grant (Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates) in relation to household waste and mainly through fees and charges in relation to commercial and industrial waste. In determining the local government settlement, the Government took into account pressures on local government spending, including their landfill tax liability and the increased costs resulting from the rise in the standard rate escalator from 2008-09. The Government have provided significant investment in local services since taking office and by 2010-11 will have provided an overall increase in Government grant of 45 per cent. since 1997.

Local Authorities: Fees and Charges

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to assist local authorities to meet the increased fees payable in public law care proceedings.

John Healey: As I made clear in the debate on the Local Government Finance Report 2008-09 on 4 February this year,  Official Report, column 729, the spending pressure on councils as a result of the transfer to local authorities of the full funding for family law cases, is included within the Formula Grant for authorities. Overall Government grant to local authorities increases by 1.5 per cent. a year in real terms over the CSR07 period, taking the investment in local services since we took office to 45 per cent. in real terms up to 2010-11.

Local Government Finance: Social Services

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms her Department has in place to monitor local authorities' expenditure of funding allocated through local involvement networks for social care.

John Healey: The level of the local authority contribution to the local involvement networks (LINks) is a matter for individual councils. Government funding for local authorities' responsibilities in this area has been added into Area Based Grant which is administered by my Department. Area based Grant is a non-ringfenced general grant and as such there are no requirements for local authorities to report separately on how the grant is utilised.

Local Government Task Force: Pay

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department holds on the expenses of board members of the Local Government Task Force.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not hold information on the expenses of board members of the Local Government Task Force.

Regional Planning and Development: East of England

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason hon. Members for constituencies in the East of England were not informed of the  (a) launch and  (b) publication of the East of England plan until the morning of publication; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: A revision to a regional spatial strategy should be published through the laying of a ministerial statement in the House. This publication statement was laid in the House at 9:30am on Monday 12 May and an event to launch the East of England plan was held in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, at noon on Monday 12 May. However, I understand that hon. Members in the East of England are very interested in how their constituencies are affected by the policies in the plan.
	With that in mind, the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) made every effort to ensure that hon. Members were invited to attend the event on Monday 12 May. GO-East officials first telephoned the offices of all hon. Members for the East of England on Friday 9 May to invite members to hear a regionally significant announcement on planning in the East of England. This was followed with an email to those offices which were not contactable by telephone.

Regional Planning and Development: East of England

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which persons were advised of the date of  (a) launch and  (b) publication of the East of England plan prior to 12 May 2008; who was invited to the launch; when the invitation to each was sent; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: A revision to a regional spatial strategy should be published through the laying of a ministerial statement in the House. This publication statement was laid in the House at 9:30am on Monday 12 May and an event to launch the East of England plan was held in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, at noon on Monday 12 May.
	The Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) invited hon. Members for the East of England and representatives of all local authorities in the region, the East of England Regional Assembly, the East of England Development Agency, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency, Natural England, English Heritage and local delivery vehicles to attend an event with a regionally significant announcement on planning in the East of England, GO-East telephoned all the invitees on Friday 9 May.

Social Rented Housing: Evictions

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many possession actions were brought by registered social landlords (RSLs) in England under the Housing Act 1988 in each year since 2000; and what percentage this total comprised in each year of the number of possession actions brought by RSLs on the grounds of rent arrears.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the number of court orders for possession (including suspended orders) granted to registered social landlords (RSLs) by the county courts in England since 2003 and also a breakdown of orders by the broad grounds for possession as recorded in court databases.
	However, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of possessions resulting from specific legislation because this information is not collected by county court administrative systems.
	
		
			  Orders for possession (including suspended orders) granted to registered social landlords (RSLs) by county courts in England, 2003-2007 
			Grounds for possession 
			   Total possession orders granted to RSLs  Arrears  Antisocial behaviour  Arrears and antisocial behaviour  Other 
			 2003 45,133 44,035 162 61 875 
			 2004 44,260 43,433 139 60 628 
			 2005 41,907 41,129 138 66 574 
			 2006(1) 39,023 38,290 108 38 587 
			 2007(1) 36,390 35,778 126 61 425 
			 (1) Certain figures for 2006 and 2007 have been estimated. This follows the rollout of the Possession Claims On- Line (PCOL) system in late 2006, which has affected the availability of detailed information about possession claims in central departmental databases.  Notes: 1. This table presents figures for RSLs only and excludes orders that could be identified as having been made by local authorities. However, this process relied on searching for known local authority titles in the claimant name field, and there may therefore be some inaccuracies as a result of typing errors, use of abbreviations, etc. 2. The figures exclude orders obtained using the accelerated procedure. 
		
	
	Data are not available for earlier years. The figures include all orders relating to 'social landlords' except those identified as having been granted to local authorities. They do not indicate how many properties have actually been repossessed, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	Suspended possession orders allow the tenant to remain in their home as long as they keep up repayment of arrears. If the terms are not met then the landlord can obtain an eviction warrant without the need for a further court hearing.

Social Rented Housing: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which 20 foreign nationalities obtained the most social housing tenancies in each year since information on nationality in regard to tenancies began to be collected; and how many foreign nationals obtained such tenancies in each of those years.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1800W.
	A question on nationality was first introduced to the Continuous Recording of Lettings form (CORE) for the 2006-07 data collection period. From this information it is possible to identify separately new tenants who are UK nationals and nationals of each of the A8 Eastern European accession states. It is not possible to separately identify the nationality of tenants recorded as from other European Economic Area countries or from any other countries.
	Due to gaps in local authority data, the Department will not be making overall estimates for the number of new social housing lettings made to each of the recorded nationalities.
	However, information provided by Registered Social Landlords during 2006-07 on tenant's nationality can be found on the CORE website at:
	www.core.ac.uk
	in table 6 of the 'CORE Annual Digest for Housing Associations 2006-07'.
	Similar information for those local authorities who did provide returns during 2006-07 is also available in table 6 of the 'CORE Annual Digest for Local Authorities 2006-07'. It should however be noted that not all local authorities provided information during 2006-07 and for those that did, not all provided complete information. As a result the local authority information is not complete across England and should not be used to provide a national estimate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1969W, on Admiralty House, what the cost to the public purse was of the  (a) washer dryer,  (b) tumble dryer and  (c) fridge freezer purchased for Lord Malloch-Brown's ministerial residence; and what the energy efficiency rating was of each appliance.

Meg Munn: The cost (including value added tax) to supply, install and take away the old appliance and energy efficiency rating for the appliances were as follows:
	washer dryer736.02energy rating B;
	tumble dryer366.60energy rating C; and
	fridge freezer786.78energy rating A.

Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the length of time an individual accepted for the Gateway resettlement programme will wait before resettlement; and whether they will receive financial assistance from his Department between acceptance on to the programme and resettlement.

David Miliband: The length of time between acceptance by the UK Border Agency and resettlement can vary. Accepted refugees are moved to the UK in groups once a receiving local authority has agreed to accommodate them. Therefore movement times vary according to the voluntary participation by each local authority.
	Staff being considered for resettlement under the Gateway programme will be provided with financial assistance to allow them to support themselves during the screening process in a third country.

Eritrea: Refugees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety of refugees returned to Eritrea.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Conditions in Eritrea are continuously monitored from a wide range of reliable sources including intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts abroad) and human rights organisations (for example Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch). This information is published in Country of Origin Information (COI) reports on the Home Office website. The latest COI report on Eritrea was published in February 2008 and can be found at the following link:
	http://w ww.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/country_reports.html

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iraqis formerly employed by the British government are excluded from resettlement under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme when they do not qualify as refugees under the 1951 Convention.

David Miliband: I refer to my statement to Parliament on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30-33WS. To be eligible for resettlement under the Gateway Protection Programme, former staff must be recognised as refugees by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which occupations constitute a similarly skilled or professional role necessitating the regular use of written or spoken English for those Iraqis formerly employed by the British Government as interpreters in Iraq.

David Miliband: Staff assessing applications for assistance under the scheme treat each case on its merits, based on the roles or duties of the individual concerned while employed with us. Some employing Departments, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, employ or have employed local staff who are not specifically designated as interpreters, but who operate alongside UK-based colleagues in skilled or professional roles which require the regular use of English and may involve some interpretation or translation duties. We do not, however, maintain an exhaustive list of occupations that would necessarily qualify or disqualify an individual, but seek to make fair and reasonable judgments which meet both the letter and the spirit of the relevant criterion.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iraqi citizens  (a) serving and  (b) employed formerly by the British Government in Iraq are eligible for one of the places set aside under the UK's Gateway refugee resettlement programme.

David Miliband: I refer to my written statement to Parliament on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30-33WS. Provision for up to 600 places has been made within the Gateway programme over the next two years for staff and their dependants who meet the criteria. The 600 spaces are open to both former and serving staff (including dependants) as defined by the scheme. In practice, however, we expect most serving staff who are eligible and wish to come to the UK to avail themselves of exceptional leave outside the immigration rules and travel directly to the UK from Iraq.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether former Iraqi employees of the British Government who have been rejected by the Gateway programme will be offered a one-off package of financial assistance.

David Miliband: If an individual who had been assessed as eligible for assistance under the scheme were subsequently determined not to be eligible for resettlement in the UK under the Gateway programme, in principle there would be no obstacle to that individual receiving the one-off package of financial assistance instead. We would, however, need to consider carefully the circumstances of the case, in particular the reasons for ineligibility under Gateway.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether former Iraqi interpreters and their families accepted onto the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme will receive the package of financial assistance available to those being considered under the Gateway refugee resettlement programme.

David Miliband: I refer to my written statement to Parliament on 30 October 2007,  Official Report columns 30-33WS. Financial support is provided to all those staff who are considered for resettlement under the Gateway programme specifically in order to allow them to support themselves during the screening process in a third country. This is separate from, and less than, the one-off package of financial assistance offered to all staff as an alternative to resettlement in the UK.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long Iraqi interpreters accepted on to the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme have waited on average before applications under the Gateway programme are determined.

David Miliband: There are a number of stages in the process of considering applications from former Iraqi locally engaged (LE) staff for resettlement under the Gateway programme. Applicants must first be assessed as eligible in principle for assistance under the LE staff assistance scheme. Those who are still in Iraq then need to move to a third country, a process which involves obtaining the consent of the country concerned, and then be screened by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to determine whether they should be recognised as refugees in need of resettlement. Finally, they are screened by the UK Border Agency for admission to the UK under Gateway. The length of time needed for each of these stages can vary according to the circumstances of each case.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former Iraqi employees have been admitted to the UK under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme.

David Miliband: No former staff, as defined by the scheme, have yet been admitted to the UK for resettlement. The UK Border Agency is working with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to process the first group of staff who have moved to a third country to undergo the screening process.
	The first group of serving staff and their families (three principal applicants and 15 dependants) were welcomed to the UK in April under the scheme with indefinite leave to enter, outside the Immigration Rules.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applicants under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance scheme were awaiting determination of their applications for resettlement at the latest date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: Applications for assistance under the scheme are assessed in line with the eligibility criteria which are set out in my statement to Parliament on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30-33WS. Once applicants have been informed they are eligible they declare which type of assistance they would like. At 8 May there were 80 applications where a decision on eligibility had not yet been taken.
	Eligible applicants who choose the opportunity to be resettled in the UK under the Gateway programme must undergo screening by both the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to determine that they qualify as a refugee under the 1951 Convention, and by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to ensure that any individual who might pose a threat to the UK, or whose presence here is undesirable, is prevented from entering the country. Eligible serving staff (as defined under the scheme) who opt for exceptional leave to enter the UK directly also need to undergo screening by UKBA. At 8 May, 185 principal applicants were being considered under these processes.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the degree of risk faced by former Iraqi employees is relevant to  (a) admittance to the locally employed staff assistance scheme and  (b) the determination of who should be allocated a resettlement place.

David Miliband: Eligibility for assistance is determined by whether the applicant meets the objective criteria which I announced on 9 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 27-28WS and 30 October,  Official Report, columns 30-33WS. These do not include the degree of risk faced by an individual. But the introduction of the scheme was grounded in a recognition that the circumstances in which our Iraqi locally engaged staff have served have been uniquely difficult.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iraqi nationals who are serving employees of the British Government in Iraq who apply for resettlement under the locally employed staff assistance scheme are accorded priority over Iraqi former employees.

David Miliband: It is our general policy to process applications for assistance under the scheme from former and serving staff on a first come first served basis. Neither group is given priority over the other.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many places have been allocated to date under the locally employed staff assistance scheme for Iraqi refugees in third countries.

David Miliband: We have received around 20 applications for assistance under the scheme from staff in third countries that have been assessed as eligible. To qualify for consideration for resettlement to the UK under the Gateway programme, former staff must by definition first be recognised by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees as refugees in need of resettlement.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether dependants of successful applicants to the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme will count towards the total of 600 places on the scheme.

David Miliband: I refer to my written statement to Parliament on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 30WS-33WS. The 600 Gateway places are for both former staff and their dependants.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria his Department uses to prioritise applications received under the locally employed staff assistance scheme.

David Miliband: Our general policy is to treat applications for assistance under the scheme on a first come first served basis. However, we are willing to consider expediting applications where there are specific reasons for doing so.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the management of applicants who qualify for the Gateway programme but apply after the 600 places on the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme have been allocated.

David Miliband: There is no indication at this stage that the 600 places that have been allocated under Gateway over the next two years will be oversubscribed.
	Employing Departments and the UK Border Agency are carefully monitoring the number of staff who are eligible and the option they have chosen. Current statistics show that over half of former staff eligible for assistance have opted for the financial package of assistance.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have been received under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme; how many have been rejected; and how many have been accepted.

David Miliband: Our latest figures (at 8 May) show that we have received 1,138 applications for assistance under the scheme. Of those, 503 of our former and current staff have been assessed as eligible for assistance and 555 have been assessed as ineligible. A decision is pending in the remaining 80 cases.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of those former employees of the British Government in Iraq accepted under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme have opted for the Gateway resettlement programme.

David Miliband: At 8 May, 383 former staff had been assessed as eligible for assistance under the scheme. Of those, 158 have asked to be considered for resettlement via the Gateway Programme.

Iraq: Asylum

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the time required to process and determine all applications under the Locally Employed Staff Assistance Scheme.

David Miliband: Staff across Government are working assiduously to ensure applications are processed and eligible staff receive assistance as rapidly as is practicable. In many cases eligibility can be assessed very quickly but in some cases more information may be required from applicants or checks may be required to substantiate individual claims, particularly if staff left our employ some time ago, before effective decisions can be taken.

Piracy

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department issued to  (a) UK-registered and  (b) Royal Navy ships operating in or passing through areas where there is a risk of piracy on (i) intervention in and (ii) taking active steps to prevent acts of piracy in the five years prior to the transfer of responsibility for the issue to other Departments.

Meg Munn: holding answer 20 May 2008
	Consistent with past practice, it is for the Ministry of Defence to give guidance and instruction to commanders of Royal Naval vessels and for the Department for Transport to give advice to masters of merchant ships registered in the UK.

Sudan: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the safety of non-Arab ethnic Darfuris in Khartoum.

Liam Byrne: Conditions in Sudan are continuously monitored from a wide range of reliable sources including intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts abroad) and human rights organisations (for example, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch). This information is published in Country of Origin Information (COI) reports on the Home Office website. The latest COI report on Sudan was published in February 2008 and can be found at the following link: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/country_reports.html and is available in the Library of the House.

UN Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which people have been nominated by the Government for the UN Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government have not nominated any candidates to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) since 1982.
	The UK strongly supports CEDAW and believes that an effective treaty monitoring body is one of the best mechanisms to promote and protect the human rights of women around the world. We also welcome the positive contribution that other nationals from UN member states have to make in strengthening UN bodies and promoting gender equality internationally.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to the public purse will be of the provision of the recently announced 20 million bed nets to tackle malaria in Africa; what the cost per bed bet is; what estimate he has made of the expenditure that will be incurred in  (a) administering the programme and  (b) distributing the bed nets; whether the Government will meet all the associated costs; and from what budget such funding will be drawn.

Gillian Merron: On the basis of current prices the Department for International Development (DFID) anticipates that the total costs for the 20 million bed nets over the three-year period 2008-10 will be in the region of 90 million. This estimate is based on a bed net cost of around 2.50 and a further 2 per net for costs of programme administration, distribution and delivery. DFID will support delivery through its country programmes.
	In some countries the overhead and delivery costs may be met by other organisations or the recipient Government. The UK's contribution is additional to its contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and UNITAID which should play a central role in supporting provision of bed nets and other essential health commodities and drugs. We also look to these organisations to play a catalytic role in pushing down on prices.

Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which individuals and organisations were consulted prior to the Prime Minister's announcement of the provision of 20 million bed nets to tackle malaria in Africa; and what  (a) his Department's and  (b) the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit's role was in the development of the policy.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) consulted several organisations prior to the Prime Minister's announcement on the provision of 20 million bed nets, including Malaria No More, experts at UNICEF and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Simultaneously DFID sought the views of its health advisers based in country offices in Africa and Asia.
	Responsibility in Whitehall for UK support to developing countries in responding to malaria rests with DFID. The Prime Minister's office was consulted throughout. The Delivery Unit was not involved in the development of the policy.

Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations his Department plans to work with in distributing bed nets to tackle malaria in Africa; what steps his Department plans to take to ensure efficient delivery; who will determine where the bed nets are to be distributed and on what criteria; which countries he expects to be the primary beneficiaries; and according to what timetable delivery will take place.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) will work with a range of partners to ensure bed nets are distributed and delivered effectively. We will work to strengthen recipient government systems for delivering bed nets. Decisions on where the bed nets will be distributed and on what criteria, as well as the role of partners such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, will be based on country needs and will be made in-country by DFID's country programmes.
	Delivery will be monitored in accordance with DFID's standard arrangements. We expect the countries that will benefit from UK-funded bed nets shall include Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Congo, and Mozambique. The timetable for delivery over the period 2008-10 will be determined by the individual countries' needs and capacity and the most efficient means of delivery.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: There are no apprenticeships or advanced apprenticeships in the Department for International Development. The Department has no associated agencies.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any officials in his Department were disciplined or dismissed for  (a) breaches of data protection requirements and  (b) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: In the last three years, the Department for International Development (DFID) disciplined or dismissed  (a) no staff for breaches of data protection requirements and  (b) fewer than five staff for inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data, with all action taking place in 2006-07. Due to the small number, a breakdown by number, employment status and outcome is not made public on the grounds of confidentiality.

Departmental Manpower

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) permanent civil service posts,  (b) permanent non-civil service posts and  (c) temporary or agency workers in employment in his Department there were in each month since May 2005.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides employment statistics to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Prior to 2006, employment numbers were available only on an annual basis and from then on were collected quarterly.
	Details of the available published DFID staffing statistics for permanent civil service employees, and temporary workers, in DFID from 2005 are contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Month/year  Permanent civil service employees  Temporary workers (i.e.  f ixed-term civil service employees on contracts of 12 months or less)  Total 
			 March 2005 1880 0 1880 
			 March 2006 1800 0 1800 
			 June 2006 1780 0 1780 
			 September 2006 1740 0 1740 
			 December 2006 1750 10 1760 
			 March 2007 1710 10 1720 
			 June 2007 1720 10 1730 
			 September 2007 1670 0 1670 
			 December 2007 1660 0 1660 
			 March 2008 1610 0 1610 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	The definition of temporary workers follows the ONS definition which states that employees with fixed term contracts of 12 months or less should be regarded as temporary employees.
	In response to the question about the numbers of our non-civil service posts, DFID employs staff appointed in country (SAIC) who are recruited locally to work in our network of over 50 offices overseas on local terms and conditions of service. The details of our SAIC staff are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Month/year  Total 
			 March 2005 989 
			 March 2006 933 
			 June 2006 899 
			 September 2006 881 
			 December 2006 882 
			 March 2007 865 
			 June 2007 837 
			 September 2007 846 
			 December 2007 854 
			 March 2008 834 
		
	
	Prior to October 2007 there were no central records of agency workers within DFID so we are unable to provide historical numbers. Details of the centrally managed agency workers from October 2007 to March 2008 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 October 26 
			 November 27 
			 December 34 
			 January 38 
			 February 49 
			 March 54

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on  (a) written consultations, ( b) consultation roadshows and  (c) stakeholder focus groups in each of the last three years.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Consultation is an integral function of many aspects of the Department for International Development's (DFID) policy, corporate and operational work. This includes both the funding of consultation exercises and decisions about the most appropriate consultation mechanisms to be applied.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultants have been contracted by his Department to conduct public participation activities in the last three years; and how much expenditure his Department has incurred on each such contract to date.

Gillian Merron: Participation and consultation is an integral function of many aspects of the Department for International Development's (DFID) policy, corporate and operational work. Disaggregating these elements of work would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Translation Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) spent 146,090 on translation and interpretation services during 2007-08. The following table details the overall costs broken down by language.
	
		
			  Translation and interpretation services 
			  Languages  Cost () 
			 Albanian 11,875 
			 Arabic 2,812 
			 Armenian 1,227 
			 Bangla 341 
			 Cambodian 25 
			 English 21,614 
			 French 30,605 
			 Italian 231 
			 Kinyarwand 559 
			 Nepal 130 
			 Portuguese 10,239 
			 Romanian 210 
			 Russian 2,977 
			 Sign Language 17,262 
			 Spanish 29,816 
			 Urdu 11,648 
			 Vietnamese 4,521 
			 Total 146,090 
		
	
	Other translation or interpretational costs may have been incurred but cannot be separately identified; for example, where translation is a small component within a larger project.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received on his Department's  (a) expenditure and  (b) policy on tackling HIV/AIDS in the developing world.

Gillian Merron: A public consultation on updating the Government's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world was launched in May 2007. The Department for International Development (DFID) received over 90 submissions in direct response to this consultation.
	Since June 2007 DFID has received over 50,000 letters, postcards and e-mails from members of the public about various aspects of AIDS policy and expenditure. DFID Ministers have also received more than 700 letters from MPs writing on behalf of constituents and other interested groups.

Disaster Relief

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what performance indicators his Department uses to measure the effectiveness of its response in providing emergency relief aid following a natural disaster; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) funds organisations that subscribe and adhere to, as far as is practicable, internationally accepted standards of humanitarian assistance and good practice including the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response laid out by the Sphere Project. The standards relate to:
	1. Participation
	2. Initial assessment
	3. Response
	4. Targeting
	5. Monitoring
	6. Evaluation
	7. Aid worker competencies and responsibilities
	8. Supervision, management and support of personnel.
	Each of the above standards contains minimum standards, key indicators and guidance notes. More information can be found at
	www.sphereproject.org
	DFID receives reporting and monitors the activities of its partners in meeting standards.

Disaster Relief

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with which companies his Department has contracts to supply air freight services in response to humanitarian needs caused by natural disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Hanover Aviation Ltd was recently awarded a contract by the Department for International Development (DFID) to provide Aviation Brokerage Services to DFID and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). This followed their success in a tendering exercise conducted under EU Procurement Rules.

Disaster Relief

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with which companies his Department has a contract or contracts to supply emergency relief including food, waste purification and tents in response to humanitarian needs caused by natural disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) maintains a stockpile of emergency relief supplies. Where the necessary supplies are not available from the stockpile, DFID procures them in accordance with EU procurement directives. DFID does not have long-term agreements with any providers of relief supplies.

Disaster Relief

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what performance measures his Department includes in contracts with companies supplying and freighting UK Government emergency aid relief following natural disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Each contract issued by the Department for International Development (DFID) follows best practice procurement processes and includes individual performance targets. All commodities supplied are subject to independent inspection for quality, suitability and contract compliance.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Support

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be affected by the proposal in the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, if enacted, to raise the minimum payment for benefit recipients from 5 to 7.

James Plaskitt: It is our firm belief that it is important that parents support their children even when they have a comparatively small income.
	The proposed increase in the flat-rate to 7 recognises the fact that the current flat-rate of 5 has not been increased since it was approved by Parliament in 2000. The increase to 7 is justified by the actual and expected increase in prices and benefits between that time and 2010-11, when it is anticipated that the proposed scheme will be introduced.
	It is not possible to estimate the number of people who will be affected by increasing the 5 flat-rate to 7. This is because we know that the composition of the caseload is likely to change as we start to allow parents to make their own arrangements for child maintenance. Although we expect the size of the caseload to drop, at this time there is no way of knowing, precisely, which cases will remain and which will leave. It is therefore not possible to determine with any certainty the actual composition of the Commission's caseload at the time when existing cases will become subject to the new calculation rules.

Cost of Living: Pensioners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in living costs for pensioners in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Price indices for pensioner households are published in Tables 7.4 and 7.5 of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Focus on Consumer Price Indices. Latest information relates to quarter 1 2008. This information is available in the Library.

Council Tax Benefits

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of eligible  (a) households and  (b) pensioner households which claimed council tax benefit in each region of England in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of the proportion of those eligible who claim council tax benefit are not available below the level of Great Britain. It is, therefore, not possible to say what the take-up rate was in each region of England since 1997.

Departmental Correspondence

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks are in place to ensure inappropriately signed print is not used in letters issued to his Department's clients with visual impairment.

Anne McGuire: Customers have the option to request written information in a different format to ensure disabled people can access our services. Customers with visual difficulties can request to receive their letters in larger sized print. We then take measures to ensure that all future correspondence is issued appropriately.

Fire Prevention: Public Buildings

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions  (a) he and  (b) the Health and Safety Executive have had with local authorities and the construction industry on fire resistance standards for materials used in public buildings.

Anne McGuire: None. These matters are outside the remit of my Department and the Health and Safety Executive.

Fylde

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent staff  (a) were employed by each of his business directorates in Fylde in each of the last four years and  (b) have been so employed in 2008;
	(2)  how many of his Department's staff working in Fylde were redeployed to Government work in another Department in  (a) 2008 and  (b) each of the preceding four years.

Anne McGuire: The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in each business unit in Fylde in each of the last four years is shown in the following table. For 2004-07 the figure shown is the number of staff still employed at 31 December. The figure for 2008 is at 30 April 2008, the latest date for which figures are available.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent staff employed in Fylde 
			  Fylde Business Units  Staffing  December 20 04  December  20 05  December 20 06  December  20 07  April  20 08 
			 The Appeals Service(1) FTE 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Child Support Agency FTE 302 294 456 382 367 
			 Corporate and Shared Services FTE 1,474 1,300 1,143 944 876 
			 Disability and Carers Service FTE 2,973 3,143 3,040 2,763 2,703 
			 Jobcentre Plus FTE 983 471 873 770 735 
			 The Pensions Service FTE 94 104 326 214 103 
			 Total FTE(2)  5,826 5,314 5,839 5,073 4,784 
			 (1) The Appeals Service transferred to the Department for Constitutional Affairs from April 2006. (2) Total may not sum due to rounding 
		
	
	The number of the Department's staff who transferred from Fylde to Government work in another Department is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff transferring to other Government Departments 
			  Fylde staff transferred to OGD( 1)  Headcount 
			 1 January to 31 December 2004 32 
			 1 January to 31 December 2005 18 
			 1 January to 31 December 2006 23 
			 1 January to 31 December 2007 24 
			 1 January to 30 April 2008 (latest month) 4 
			 Total 101 
			 (1) The numbers of staff transferred to OGD includes both staff redeployed and those moving on a voluntary basis. To break this information down further would be at a disproportionate cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Students

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the review into the rules on periods of study allowed by those on jobseekers allowance to be completed and published.

James Plaskitt: We worked with City Strategy Pathfinders during 2007 to look at what further enabling measures could be put in place to help people into work; this included looking at whether any further changes needed to be made to enable benefit claimants to be able to study or train full-time. This work concluded that a wide range of flexibilities already existed to enable full-time study, for example for those on long-term incapacity benefit and people in vulnerable groups claiming income support.
	In our joint report with DIUS, Opportunity, Employment and Progression, published on 26 November 2007, we indicated that we were removing the 16 hour rule in housing benefit for short term recipients of incapacity benefit and that we would consider whether it might be practicable to define limited exemptions from the '16 hour rule' for specific groupssuch as young people living in supported accommodation. We will report on progress on both of these in due course. We are also taking forward a proposal to allow more people on jobseeker's allowance to be able to access full-time, employment focused training for up to eight weeks by moving them onto a training allowance. We are planning to test a similar flexibility in a City Strategy Pathfinder area later this year and, learning the lessons from this, roll out nationally during the 2009-10 academic year. We are also looking at further ways of increasing access to full-time training for jobseeker's allowance claimants where this would help support their move into employment.

London Airports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hire VIP facilities at airports.

Pension Service: Swansea

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work has been transferred from other centres to the Pension Service Centre in Swansea since 2005.

Mike O'Brien: 450,000 customer cases.

Pensioners: Cost of Living

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of living for pensioner households in each year since 1997.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the pensioner prices index was in each year from 1978-79 to 2008-09.

Mike O'Brien: Price indices for pensioner households are published in Tables 7.4 and 7.5 of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Focus on Consumer Price Indices. This information is available in the Library.
	ONS produce separate indices for one and two pensioner households where at least three quarters of the household's income is from state benefits. These households are excluded from the Retail Prices Index (RPI).
	The ONS exclude housing costs from the pensioner indices on the grounds that this would overstate inflation, as pensioners either tend to have lower housing costs, or would mostly be cushioned against some rises in housing costs by increases in housing-related benefits.

Pensioners: Income

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners had a net annual income of  (a) up to 5,200,  (b) 5,200 to 10,400,  (c) 10,400 to 20,800,  (d) 20,800 to 40,000,  (e) 40,000 to 80,000 and  (f) over 80,000 in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK in the latest year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: Due to pension credit no pensioner need live on less than 124.05 per week (6,451 per year) in 2008-09, compared to 67.05 per week in 1996-97 (3,487 per year).
	The pension credit take-up target for 2008-09 is to deliver an annualised value of new successful pension credit applications of 767 million and to secure at least 250,000 successful new pension credit applications, an increase of 15,000 on this year's target.
	We want as many people as possible to take up the benefits they are entitled to, which is why we have simplified the application process and focussed on encouraging people to apply.
	The following table shows the percentage of pensioners with net income in each income band:
	
		
			   Percentage of pensioner units with net income in each band 
			   Scotland  UK 
			 Up to 5,200 4 6 
			 5,200 to 10,400 39 34 
			 10,400 to 20,800 44 43 
			 20,800 to 40,000 12 14 
			 Over 40,000 2 3 
			  Notes: 1. Net income before housing costs is gross income less income tax payments, national insurance contributions, contributions to occupational and private pension schemes, local taxes, maintenance and child support payments, and parental contributions to children living away from home. 2. Based on survey data and as such subject to a degree of sampling and non sampling error.  3. All figures are rounded to the nearest 1 per cent. Figures may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding. 4. Due to the small sample sizes involved in estimates below a national level, three year's data have been combined and the income band has been deflated to the appropriate year's prices. 5. A pensioner unit is either a single person over pension age or a couple in which at least one person is over pension age. 6. Figures for Scotland are estimated by combining three year's data from 2003-04 to 2005-06. Figures for the UK are based on 2005-06 data. Reliable estimates of the percentage of pensioners receiving between 40,000 and 80,000 per year and over 80,000 per year are not possible with the data source, so the two groups have been combined.  Source: Family Resources Survey

Personal Accounts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has had from the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority on the level of charges on personal accounts.

Mike O'Brien: The personal accounts scheme will deliver low charges for members and fulfil the Government's intention that the scheme should be self-financing over the long-term. My Department is working closely with the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority to develop a funding strategy for the personal accounts scheme, including the level and structure of charges that will be levied on members. A final charge level will only be known once the funding strategy is finalised and the Delivery Authority has undertaken the commercial procurement process, which will establish the detailed costs of delivering the scheme. They can only do this once the Authority's powers have been extended through the current Pensions Bill.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: There are no smoking shelters at any of the Department's London buildings and none have been constructed in the last five years. All DWP buildings are smoke free indoors.

Social Fund

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has commissioned KPMG to undertake a feasibility study to assess options available for the reform of the system of Social Fund loans.

James Plaskitt: Yes.

Social Security Benefits: Overseas Residence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of  (a) disability living allowance care component,  (b) incapacity benefits,  (c) state pension and  (d) bereavement benefits claimed outside the United Kingdom was in the last year for which figures are available; and what he expects them to be in the next three financial years.

James Plaskitt: Benefits claimed outside the United Kingdom excluding disability living allowance are in the following table.
	The cost of the disability living allowance (DLA) care component claimed outside the UK was estimated to be below 1 million in 2006-07. From October 2007 the ECJ judgment on exportability of the care component will increase DLA expenditure outside the UK, however the full extent of the UK's responsibilities following this judgment have not yet been determined.
	
		
			   million 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Incapacity benefit 44 44 42 36 
			 Severe disablement allowance 1
			 State pension 2,175 2,323 2,482 2,651 
			 Bereavement benefits 25 23 21 18 
			  Notes:  1. All figures are consistent with spring 2008 forecasts, as well as expenditure information published on the internet at  www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp.  2. There is no forecast available for severe disablement allowance.  Source:  Departmental Accounting and Statistical data and forecasts.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reservations the Government plans to enter against the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities prior to its ratification.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 6 May 2008,  O fficial  R eport , column 29WS, UN Convention on Disability Rights which sets out the current position in respect of our progress towards ratification of the Convention, and the areas where reservations are still under consideration.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to streamline the delivery of Pillar 2 monies under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Jonathan R Shaw: In England, Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013) is delivered by Natural England, the Regional Development Agencies, the Forestry Commission and the Rural Payments Agency. The new programme was approved by the European Commission in December 2007. At present, there are no immediate plans for changing the delivery arrangements, but DEFRA and the delivery bodies will continue to work together to improve the efficiency and value for money of these arrangements wherever possible.

Agriculture: Subsidies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Rural Payments Agency is making towards its targets of  (a) making 96.14 per cent. of payments under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) by 30 June 2008 and  (b) making 90 per cent. of the total value of payments for the 2007 SPS by the end of May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: As at 19 May 2008 the total value of payments made under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is 1.295 billion, which is 89.3 per cent. of the estimated total fund of 1.45 billion.
	The Rural Payments Agency continues to work towards meeting its 2007 SPS targets.

Agriculture: Subsidies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Rural Payments Agency on recent trends in the rates of payments under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme.

Jonathan R Shaw: When the Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency met with my noble Friend, Lord Rooker and industry stakeholders on 6 May 2008 he explained the steps that were being taken to ensure progress on the 2007 Single Payment Scheme in line with the agency's target to make 90 per cent. of payments by value by the end of May.
	As at 19 May 2008, payments totalled 1.295 billion, which is 89.3 per cent. of the estimated total fund of 1.45 billion.

Beekeeping: Research

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned into beekeeping and bee health in each year since 2001; what research he plans to commission in each of the next five years; what the cost of that research  (a) was and  (b) is expected to be in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following projects have been funded by DEFRA since 2001. The costs of the projects are included:
	
		
			  Project  From  To  Cost of project () 
			 HH0813SHB: Screening pathogens for the biocontrol of Varroa jacobsoni. 1998 2002 410,231 
			 HH0814SHB: The epidemiology of honey bee viruses transmitted by Varroa destructor. 2000 2001 120,000 
			 HH0815SHB: Effects of chlortetracycline on honeybee brood (Apis mellifera) development and residues in honey following treatment. 2000 2001 17,557 
			 HH0816SHB: Establishing the appropriate treatment method and an MRL for oxytetracycline for honey 2001 2002 21,142 
			 HH0817THB: The control of exotic bee diseases and their likely interactions with UK conditions. 2001 2004 330,000 
			 HH0819SHB: Fungal control of Varroa jacobsoni (destructor) 2002 2006 383,802 
			 HH3126SHB: Evaluation of TaqMan real-time PCR for detection of Aethina tumida (Small Hive Beetle) 2005 2005 14,348 
			 HH3223SHB: Minimisation of oxytetracycline levels in honey after antibiotic treatment 2003 2004 25,000 
			 HH3224SHB: Developing Real-Time PCR TaqMan(TM) instrumentation for Bee Health Diagnostics. 2002 2003 10,000 
			 HH3225SHB: Detection and control techniques for the Small Hive Beetle Aethina tumida (Murray); (Coleoptera, Nitiduluidae) 2002 2003 8,000 
			 HH3234SHB: Optimisation of detection methods for Melissococcus plutonius (European foulbrood, EFB) 2005 2005 10,101 
			 HH3235SHB: Honey bee virus detection and discrimination 2005 2005 25,233 
			 HH3815SHB: A promotional publication summarising the Defra Bee Health Research and Development activity over 10 years 2004 2005 9,920 
			 HL0161LHB: Development of a method of biological control of European foulbrood in honeybees to supersede antibiotic treatments. 2000 2003 103,579 
			 PH0410: The taxonomy of UK and exotic honey bee viruses: a molecular approach (PhD Fellowship). 2007 2010 81,248 
			 PH0502: Assessing the effectiveness of the shook swarm method for controlling European Foul Brood. 2006 2008 185,393 
			 PH0503: Development of a monitoring system for the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida (Murray). 2006 2008 225,772 
			 PN0936: The effects of endocrine disrupters on honeybee populations. 2001 2004 86,148 
			 PN0944: Use of sub-lethal effects in honeybees in pesticide risk assessment. 2001 2002 31,785 
			 PN0945: Assessing the impact of mixtures of pyrethroids and fungicides on honeybees. 2001 2004 55,718. 
			 PS2322: Assessment of the risk posed to honeybees by systemic pesticides. 2005 2007 46,104 
			 VM02140: Investigation of the fate of veterinary drugs used in apiculture. 2004 2007 180,589 
			 VM02156: Investigation into the experimental protocols required to determine Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in honey: Preliminary study using organic acids as model compounds to propose ways in which withdrawal times might be calculated. 2007 2010 287,083 
		
	
	For the current year, detailed allocations for all of DEFRA's programmes have still to be finalised, including those for research. Commissioned research for honey bee health in 2008-09 is expected to be c. 190,000. Research priorities are addressed in the draft Bee Health strategy which has recently been published for public consultation. Commissioned research in later years will be considered in the light of priorities identified in the agreed strategy and the resources available.

Bees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the value of the contribution honey bees made to the agricultural economy in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: h olding answer 20 May 2008
	 : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1324W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Ben Chapman).

Bees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to monitor and control foul brood diseases in bees.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 20 May 2008
	The National Bee Unit operates a statutory inspection programme for American foul brood (AFB) and European foul brood (EFB). DEFRA's bee health R and D programme is assessing the effectiveness of the shook swarm technique for the control of EFB to determine whether this method can be used by beekeepers as part of an Integrated Pest Management scheme. In addition, a PhD studentship is being funded through the DEFRA seedcorn fund to study AFB.
	Reports are currently being prepared for two projects carried out during 2007-08 under the Horizon Scanning and Future Proofing Scheme which forms part of the Memorandum of Understanding between DEFRA and the Central Science Laboratory. These projects aimed to develop additional methods for distinguishing the bacteria causing AFB from other bacteria in the same subspecies and to investigate resistance of honey bees to EFB.

Bees

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he is funding on tropilaelaps; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 20 May 2008
	No research on tropilaelaps is being carried out. Tropilaelaps is not considered to be present in Europe. However, a contingency plan for exotic pests and diseases of honey bees has been developed with stakeholders.

Biofuels

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research was commissioned by his Department on biogas production in  (a) England and  (b) Wales in each year since 2000.

Phil Woolas: Since 2000 DEFRA has spent 720,000 on research and development into biogas production. Current work includes the UK contribution to a EU FP7 Biogas project (300,000 over four years). This project is due to complete in 2010 and will result in a synthesis of information required to assess the development of a sustainable biogas industry in the UK.
	The Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) has also conducted research on food waste processing, including anaerobic digestion. This can be found on WRAP'S website:
	www.wrap.org.uk/biowaste
	DEFRA holds the research and development budget and commissions research relevant to England and Wales.
	DEFRA also launched the Waste Implementation programme's 30 million Demonstrator programme to demonstrate innovative waste treatments technologies as possible alternatives to landfill. The programme aims to prove the economic, social and environmental viability (or not) of each selected technology.

BSE

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of BSE were recorded in UK herds in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of cases of BSE recorded in UK herds in the years specified is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Year of confirmation  Number of BSE cases confirmed 
			 2004 343 
			 2005 225 
			 2006 114 
			 2007 67 
		
	
	The Veterinary Laboratories Agency publishes a range of statistical information on BSE and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies on its website.

Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on the effect of additional development on Canvey Island on the ability to evacuate the island in the event of flood risk; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Assessment of risks to the public and how to meet them, including identification of any evacuation routes needed, is a matter for the relevant Local Resilience Forum. In cases where information from Flood Risk Assessments under PPS 25 is available, this can be taken into account in contingency planning and in development control.
	The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee on all planning applications where there is a risk of flooding and continues to work with Local Resilience Forums through area managers and flood incident management teams to improve flood emergency planning and co-ordination.

Carbon Emissions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable he has set for announcing the strategy to reduce UK carbon emissions to the levels proposed in the Climate Change Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Climate Change Bill requires that the UK Government set the first three carbon budgets in legislation by 1 June 2009 and publish proposals and policies for meeting those carbon budgets as soon as is reasonably practicable afterwards.
	The Chancellor has announced that the first three carbon budgets and a plan for meeting them will be published alongside Budget 2009.

Carbon Emissions: Nuclear Power

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1357, on carbon emissions: nuclear power stations, what information his Department holds on which of the countries from which uranium is provided for use in the United Kingdom commercial nuclear programme produce national emissions inventories.

Phil Woolas: The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is responsible for civil nuclear industry in the UK. The UK currently sources uranium for commercial reactors from Australia and Russia.
	Those parties reporting national greenhouse gas inventories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are listed on their website.

Construction: Carbon Emissions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the carbon footprint of government-funded construction projects is assessed; and what guidance his Department issues on  (a) identifying carbon savings during the planning and design process and  (b) auditing the carbon footprint of completed projects.

Phil Woolas: Departmental construction projects are required to be procured in compliance with the 'Common Minimum Standards for the procurement of built environments in the public sector', developed and published by the Office of Government Commerce. These standards include the requirement to complete an appropriate environmental assessment process appropriate to the size nature and scale of the project, such as BREEAM or equivalent. There is currently no requirement to specifically assess the carbon footprint. Support is available to the Government through the Carbon Trust's Building Design Advice service, which helps organisations to identify the carbon savings in new and renovation projects. It also provides advice on carbon footprinting.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) alleged breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: During the last three years no officials working in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies have been disciplined or dismissed for (i) alleged breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data.

Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what bio-security measures are in place at airports and ports to prevent the importation of animal diseases from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Legally imported animals and animal products from non-European Union (EU) countries are checked on entry into the United Kingdom (UK) to ensure they meet EU veterinary import conditions. Animal Health (AH) is responsible for carrying out the checks where ports/airports do not handle food products including live animals. Local authorities' veterinarians carry out the checks at ports which handle food of animal origin such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and products containing them, and a mix of animal products.
	There are three types of checks:
	Documentary checkschecks on the certification accompanying the consignment;
	Identity checkschecks to ensure that the consignment matches the information given in the document;
	Physical checkschecks on the consignment itself, including checks on temperature, condition, and for microbiological and chemical contaminants.
	Checks are carried out in approved facilities at ports and airports. These are known as Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). EU legislation lays down the requirements for BIPs and they are inspected periodically by the European Commission (EC) to ensure they meet the required standard. There is also a programme of liaison visits by AH to local authority operated BIPs to ensure compliance with the required standard.
	For intra-community trade, random checks may be carried out at the point of destination to ensure that consignments meet the requirements. If there is a disease outbreak in another member state, the onus is on the exporting country to implement disease control measures to ensure that animals and products which may present a risk are not exported.
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has been responsible for anti-smuggling controls at the Great Britain border on illegal imports of products of animal origin (POAO) from outside the EU since 11 April 2003. This includes checks on passengers' baggage, freight and post. These controls are being handled by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) since 1 April 2008. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) retain responsibility in Northern Ireland. HMRC/UKBA is committed to taking effective, proportionate, risk based and intelligence led enforcement measures to prevent illegal imports. It takes account of the latest animal disease risk assessments put together by veterinary experts from DEFRA on the current global and regional outbreak situation and targets resources on those entry routes that pose the greatest threat of disease.
	With the exception of certain technical specialists, all frontline detection staff are employed as multifunctional anti-smuggling staff with a responsibility to tackle a range of risks at the border, including dealing with POAO. Anti-smuggling staff are supported by the use of detector dogs and baggage X-ray scanning equipment.
	Detector dogs specifically trained to detect POAO are flexibly deployed in customs channels and baggage reclaim areas in accordance with latest risk assessments. Dogs are particularly successful in identifying large numbers of passengers and their baggage in a short time. They also work from time to time in postal depots and other customs controlled areas including freight sheds, car halls and lorry lanes. UKBA's ongoing commitment is to maintain 11 fully trained POAO detector dogs but at any one time, the number operational can fluctuate as a result of such factors as sickness or retirements and the need to train new dogs.
	X-ray equipment is located in all Customs Green channels at major ports and airports to scan suspicious baggage. Over-belt scanners are located behind selected baggage belts to scan all baggage from selected high risk flights.
	In addition, there continues to be a joined-up approach across Government Departments on the overall communications strategy to help raise travellers' awareness of the rules on personal imports of POAO. A variety of public awareness raising mechanisms are deployed with DEFRA leading on inland audiences and UKBA at the border and abroad. This is part of the overall anti-smuggling strategy to complement UKBA's targeted checks at the border.

Environment Agency: Conferences

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on its internal communications conference in 2007; how much of that total was accounted for by  (a) payment of speakers,  (b) travel costs,  (c) food and  (d) accommodation; and how many staff are due to attend the 2008 conference.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is increasingly professionalising its communications teams in order to draw on new tools and best practice technicians to change the behaviours of business, farmers, people at risk of flooding and other key audiences. The Communication Conference is a professional development event that supports this and helps to build strong integrated communications teams and programmes. The Environment Agency again expects 250 people to attend the 2008 conference.
	The costs of the 2007 conference are as follows.
	
		
			
			 Payment of speakers 6,000 
			 Travel costs 8,037 
			 Food and drink 8,121 
			 Accommodation (including daytime venues) 40,450 
			 Production and sundry costs 13,092 
			 Total 75,700 
		
	
	Travel costs include bus hire and estimated individual delegate travel to and from the venue at Nottingham university. This is based on an estimate of 30 expenditure per head and takes into account off-peak travel and maximised car-sharing.

Fisheries: Fuels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information he holds on the levels of fuel subsidy provided to fishing fleets in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 May 2008
	I understand that the Spanish Government is making payments directly related to fuel used by fishermen. These payments are within the de minimis limits set out in Commission Regulation 875/2007. The payments are set at 0.095 per litre of fuel used in the period 1 November 2004 to 31 October 2005.
	If applied in the UK, such a scheme would cost in the order of 25 million a year, and result in a payment to fishermen of around 7.5p/litre of fuel used: around one third of the increase in the price of diesel since this time last year. Such a scheme does not address the need for the fleet to adapt to higher fuel prices in the longer term, diverts resources from assisting with this adaptation and is not sustainable.
	I have no information that any other member state is making such payments.

Flood Control

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to update and consolidate legislation on flood prevention and protection in a single Act.

Phil Woolas: One of Sir Michael Pitt's interim conclusions was that flooding legislation should be updated and streamlined under a single unifying Act of Parliament that addresses all sources of flooding, clarifies responsibilities and facilitates flood risk management.
	The Government recognise the arguments in support of this and the draft legislative programme, published on 14 May, says that the Government intend to publish a draft Floods and Water Bill for consultation during the next session of Parliament, following the Pitt review into the 2007 floods and the Government's water strategy, 'Future Water'.

Flood Control: EU Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the implementation of the European Floods Directive 2007; what the timetable for implementation is; what the estimated cost of implementing the Directive is; what account will be taken of the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive in implementing the European Floods Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks (2007/60/EC of 23 October 2007) (the Floods Directive) is designed to help member states prevent and limit floods and their damaging effects on human health, the environment, infrastructure and property.
	In contrast with current domestic legislation, the Floods Directive advocates a risk based approach to flood risk management. Sir Michael Pitt's interim report on lessons learned from the 2007 floods recommends that flooding legislation should be updated and streamlined under a single unifying Act, which embraces this risk based approach.
	The Floods Directive came into force on 26 November, 2007 and member states have two years to transpose the directive into domestic law. DEFRA is co-ordinating transposition within the UK and is ultimately responsible for its timely and compliant implementation. A UK Floods Directive Liaison Group is developing policy on implementation and monitoring progress against the project timetable which, for England, is set out as follows:
	Project initiationAugust 2007
	Consult on draft regulations and impact assessment (including the cost of implementation)from February 2009
	Review outcome of consultation, revise and lay draft regulations by July 2009
	Bring into forceNovember 2009
	The cost of transposing and implementing the directive will be assessed prior to consultation. However, existing flood risk mapping and planning arrangements in England already reflect the broad thrust of the directive and new proposals on surface water management to address Pitt will compliment those of the directive so costs will be limited.
	The flood risk assessment process required by the Floods Directive must be aligned with the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive and carried out in consultation with stakeholders.

Flood Control: Training

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the foundation degree training programme in flood risk management; how many people  (a) have completed the course and  (b) are currently enrolled; what the cost to the taxpayer per participant is; and how many graduates were offered and (i) accepted and (ii) turned down relevant positions in the public sector in each year since the programme's inception.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency assesses the foundation degree training programme each year and in 2007 indicated a very high standard of readiness in graduates who demonstrated the necessary skills, training and knowledge to undertake their role in flood and coastal risk management. Of the first intake of graduates, 67 per cent. had the potential to progress further through the organisation. The 2007 review resulted in continued support for the foundation degree and business support for the provision of mentors for students.
	56 foundation degree trainees (FDTs) have graduated FdSc Rivers and Coastal Engineering and 31 FDTs are currently enrolled. The average cost per trainee (including all costs) is 34,000. 54 FDTs have been offered employment of which 52 accepted.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the status is of the GM crops  (a) hybrid maize (i) MON863 x MON810, (ii) MON863 x NK603 and (iii) MON863 x MON810 x NK603,  (b) GM maize (i) Bt11 and (ii) ISO7,  (c) GM rice LL62 and  (d) GM potato Amflora.

Phil Woolas: At a College of Commissioners orientation debate on GMOs on 7 May the European Commission decided to refer all of these applications back to the European Food Safety Authority for further scientific advice.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Trees

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what releases of genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus trees were made under release consents 93/R6/1 and 93/R6/2 by Shell Forestry; what areas were planted in each case; how many trees planted released GM materials under each consent; what the duration was of each release made; and whether Shell Forestry submitted a post-release monitoring report for each consent.

Phil Woolas: The trial under consent 93/R6/1 involved the cultivation of 48 GM Eucalyptus plants and 132 non-GM control plants between June and November 1993. Consent 95/R6/2 involved the trial cultivation of 48 GM Eucalyptus plants and 142 non-GM control plants between July and November 1995, within an area of 400 square metres. The precise area of the 1993 trial is not recorded, but as a similar number of plants was involved as in the 1995 trial, it can be assumed that the area planted was broadly the same.
	In both cases, Shell Research Ltd submitted post-release monitoring reports which are available in the GM Public Register, held by DEFRA. The reports confirm that no persistence or spread of the genetically modified organisms was detected. This is consistent with the fact that these trials were of young Eucalyptus plants (Eucalyptus grandis) that would not produce pollen or seed. At the end of the trials the plants were killed with a herbicide, dug up and incinerated.

Ground Water: Pollution

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) assessment he has made of risks and  (b) estimate he has made of levels of contamination of groundwater; which 10 sites had the highest level of groundwater contamination in the most recent period for which figures are available; what the sources of contamination were in each case; what factors influence decisions relating to remedial action; and what remedial action has been undertaken at each site.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the earlier responses given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 17 March and 31 March 2008,  Official  Report, column 736W and column 499W respectively regarding groundwater contamination and contaminated land.
	Further to those responses, the highest levels of contamination at a particular site do not necessarily reflect the most serious risks to people or the environment. This usually depends on many factors which control the likelihood that pollutants might enter a receptor (e.g. a person or ecosystem) with harmful effect. Any remedial action will depend on the nature of these source-pathway-receptor relationships and the outcome of a risk assessment, as well as considerations of technical feasibility, costs and benefits. These are site-specific matters.

Reservoirs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to assess the effectiveness of reservoir safety legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: There have been no fatalities resulting from reservoir breaches since the 1920s. The current regulatory regime has played its part in this good record. Nevertheless, there have been incidents at reservoirs, for example at Ulley Reservoir last summer. The Government will carefully consider any recommendations on reservoir safety from Sir Michael Pitt's review of the summer floods.
	We are undertaking a check of critical infrastructure as a result of the 2007 summer floods.

Seas and Oceans: EU Law

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what means his Department plans to transpose the EU Marine Strategy Directive into UK law; what timetable has been set for the transposition; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The marine strategy directive sets the overall goal of achieving good environmental status for Europe's seas by 2020.
	The directive was adopted by the European Council on 14 May 2008 and will enter into force 20 days after it appears in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member states are required to transpose the directive two years after it enters into force and the UK will transpose the directive to this timetable using regulations under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.
	The Marine Bill will also include new powers which will help achieve the goal of the directive. It includes a range of specific measures to better manage marine activities and protect UK waters which will contribute to achieving good environmental status.

Tobacco: EU Grants and Loans

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1341-2W, on tobacco: EU grants and loans, what steps he is taking to persuade other EU member states to reduce levels of subsidy to tobacco producers.

Jonathan R Shaw: As a non-producer, the UK has concerns about the cost and health implications of the tobacco regime. Subsidies are at odds with the European Community sponsored Europe Against Cancer programme and UK health objectives. The UK has always been critical of the regime.
	Ideally the UK would prefer to see it abolished, and so favour progressive disengagement from the sector. Following the 2004 reform, direct support for tobacco production will be progressively brought to an end by 2010. As the majority of member states are tobacco producers it was extremely difficult to secure earlier reform of the regime however the UK is pleased that the link between production and subsidy will finally be brought to an end.
	Subsidies in 2007 were 335.5 million, a reduction from the 810.9 million granted in 2006.

JUSTICE

Airguns

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average fine imposed on persons under 18 years convicted of purchasing or hiring an air weapon under the Firearms Act 1968 was in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: Person under 18 acquiring a firearm became an offence under the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by Section 33 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.
	This Section of the Act came into effect on 1 October 2007.
	Statistics for 2007 will be published in the autumn.
	According to data recorded in the courts proceedings database for the offence of person under 17 acquiring an air weapon there have been no convictions over the period 2002 to 2006.
	These figures have been taken from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Appeals: Central Government

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times the Government have sought leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and which of those applications were rejected.

Vera Baird: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. While the Treasury Solicitor's Department represents most Government departments making applications for leave to appeal to the House of Lords, it does not represent all departments. Applications for leave to appeal to the House of Lords are made on behalf of client departments by the Treasury Solicitor on instructions and the decisions on these applications are communicated to the client departments accordingly. As there has been no call from client departments to produce the figures, the Treasury Solicitor has not been able to justify the commitment of public funds to collate and record these applications from its own records, and from the records of other Government departments that have made such applications, in the form requested.

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many statutory instruments have been  (a) made and  (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

Maria Eagle: In response to  (a) the Department for Constitutional Affairs made 440 statutory instruments from 1997. Since 9 May 2007 the Ministry of Justice has made 118 statutory instruments. This information has been supplied by the Office of Public Sector Information from data recorded on their registration database which does not hold details of any statutory instruments made in 1997 and may hold only partial details of those made in 1998. In response to  (b) this information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost. No central record is maintained of this information. Revocations will have been made by new Acts of Parliament or new statutory instruments.

Drugs

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any officials in his Department were disciplined or dismissed for illicit drug taking in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: According to centrally held records for former DCA there have been no recorded cases of discipline or dismissal for illicit drug taking.
	In the public sector Prison Service, centrally held records indicate that two members of staff have been disciplined for illicit drug taking. In each case, the member of staff was dismissed from service.
	According to centrally held records for former NOMS and OCJR there have been no recorded cases of discipline or dismissal for illicit drug taking.

Electoral Register: Fraud

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of falsifying information given on an electoral registration form in the most recent 24 month period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: Unfortunately this information is not recorded in this form and to identify it would involve a relevant authority going through individual case records.
	However, the Electoral Commission is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and police forces to collect information about electoral offences so that there is a more comprehensive record for the future.

Judges: Public Appointments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation regulates the appointment of judges; what changes have been made since enactment; what further changes are planned; what discussions he has had with (i) the Bar Council and (ii) Law Society about such legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The main legislation regulating the appointment of judges is the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (CRA). Schedule 14 to the CRA sets out the primary and secondary legislation relating to those judicial posts where selection by the Judicial Appointments Commission is required, covering the great majority of appointments to courts and tribunals.
	Amendments to the CRA are contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
	Further planned changes to the judicial appointments process are included in the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (March 2008).
	The Bar Council and the Law Society were included in full discussions about this legislation and continue to be consulted regularly about the judicial appointments process.

London Airport

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Luton and  (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months.

Maria Eagle: VIP facilities are usually booked through BAA Business Support Centre Ltd. The bookings through this supplier since May 2006 are as follows:
	
		
			  Year/month  Number of hires  Cost inc. VAT () 
			  2006   
			 May 0  
			 June 3 808.88 
			 July 0  
			 August 2 539.25 
			 September 4 1,617.76 
			 October 2 539.25 
			 November 1 269.63 
			 December 0  
			  2007   
			 January 2 539.25 
			 February-May 0  
			 June 1 488.80 
			 July-August 0  
			 September 1 269.63 
			 October 0  
			 November 1 269.63 
			 December 0  
			  2008   
			 January 0  
			 February 2 539.25 
			 March-April 0  
			 Totals 19 5,881.33 
		
	
	VIP facilities at BAA Gatwick, BAA Stansted, and Luton airport were not hired during this period.

Open Prisons: Rehabilitation

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in open jails did not complete relevant offender programmes in the closed prison estate in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: This information is not available. It could be obtained only by going through the files of every prisoner held in the open estate in the last 12 months, to do so would be at disproportionate cost. Prior to allocation to an open prison, prisoners are assessed to ensure that the level of risk that they present can be safely managed in open conditions. The assessment will take account of a range of factors including participation in activities such as offending behaviour and treatment programmes where appropriate. The risk assessment process for open conditions is stringentand becoming more sophisticated at assessing risk. As a result, abscond rates are falling: (financial years) 2003-041,310; 2004-05877; 2005-06709; 2006-07555; 2007-08561 (annualised projection). Over 95 per cent. of those who have absconded are returned to custody.
	However, some programmes are also delivered in open prisons. There have been open prisons since 1936 and they are the most effective means of ensuring prisoners are tested in the community before they are released. To release prisoners directly from a closed prison without the resettlement benefits of the open estate would undoubtedly lead to higher levels of post-release re-offending.

Parole

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases the Parole Board considered in each of the last 10 years; how many and what proportion of offenders were granted oral hearings in each of those years; and how many of those offenders were granted parole in each year.

David Hanson: The information requested is set out in the following table. It is based on data published by the Parole Board in its annual reports. It excludes the Parole Board's consideration of recalled prisoners.
	Almost all determinate sentence prisoners have their parole applications considered on the papers and therefore the oral hearings listed in the table are predominantly in respect of indeterminate and extended sentence prisoners.
	
		
			   Determinate sentence prisoners considered for parole  Extended and Indeterminate (including lifers) prisoners considered for parole  Granted oral hearing  Granted oral hearing (Percentage)  Released by oral hearing  Released by oral hearing (Percentage) 
			 1997-98 5,242 912 278 4.5 39 14.0 
			 1998-99 6,078 753 291 4.2 26 8.9 
			 1999-2000 6,219 903 282 3.9 38 16.7 
			 2000-01 5,576 803 272 4.2 43 15.8 
			 2001-02 5,514 979 466 7.1 40 8.5 
			 2002-03 6,012 1,168 495 6.8 91 18.3 
			 2003-04 6,038 1,672 1,018 13.2 254 24.9 
			 2004-05 7,297 1,614 1,341 15.0 290 21.6 
			 2005-06 7,528 1,761 1,512 16.2 270 17.8 
			 2006-07 6,923 2,104 1,831 20.2 213 11.6

Powers of Attorney

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many applications for lasting power of attorney have been declared invalid since the inception of the Office of the Public Guardian; for what reasons in each case; and whether each was subsequently accepted;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the performance of the Office of the Public Guardian in meeting its service standards;

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many lasting power of attorney forms have been incorrectly completed and returned to the applicant since the introduction of such forms; in how many such cases  (a) applicants have been required to pay a second registration fee on successful completion of the form and  (b) applicants have discontinued their registration; and for what purposes a second registration fee is required.

Bridget Prentice: The information is as follows:
	 Applications to register a  l asting  p ower of  a ttorney
	Since the commencement of the Mental Capacity Act in October 2007 until the end of March 2008 the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) received 9,623 applications to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA). During the same period 1,256 lasting powers of attorney were registered by the Public Guardian. Currently we do not have figures for the total number of LPAs that were rejected during this period as the bulk of the 9,623 applications will still be progressing through the system.
	The OPG will only reject an application if it contains material errors that are not capable of correction. The OPG's recent experience is that many initially imperfect applications can be registered after the errors have been corrected by an exchange of correspondence.
	The OPG recently carried out a sampling exercise that suggested around 40 per cent. of applications are valid on receipt and can be registered once the statutory waiting period has expired, around 30 per cent. of applications can be registered once further information has been provided and around 30 per cent. cannot be registered at all due to material errors in the application. In January the OPG also identified the main reasons currently why an LPA cannot be registered and made this information available on its website.
	A decision was also taken that where a fresh application was necessary and the invalid application was received prior to January the OPG would not charge an additional fee for registration. However, where a new application is required for invalid applications received after January an additional fee will be payable. Where all that is required is additional information, or where errors can be corrected without a fresh application being necessary, no additional fee is payable regardless of when the application was made.
	 Performance standards at the OPG
	There are a number of methods by which the performance of the OPG is currently measured:
	Annual key performance indicators (KPIs), agreed with the Ministry of Justice, set out how the Office of the Public Guardian and Court of Protection will meet their service levels.
	I also currently receive regular updates on performance from the chief executive and meet with him to discuss performance.
	A statutory Public Guardian board scrutinises the way in which the Public Guardian discharges his functions and makes recommendations to the Lord Chancellor as appropriate. I have met periodically with the chair of the board since its inception.
	The OPG and Court's Annual report for 2007-08 is due to be published prior to the summer recess and will include an assessment of performance against KPIs and the Public Guardian board will be publishing their first report on the Public Guardian around October 2008 once the Act has been in operation for a full year.
	The OPG and Court recently published their business plan for 2008-09 with revised KPIs that give a clearer picture of performance and levels of service to customers.
	The Office of the Public Guardian and Court of Protection have faced a number of operational challenges since they were created as a result of volumes of work significantly higher than expected. Although there are positive aspects to thisfor example it appears large numbers of people are planning ahead by making a new lasting power of attorneythe high volumes have meant a dip in performance levels. Additional resources have been made available to manage the higher than anticipated workloads and these have been deployed across the organisation and in particular into the team that register powers of attorney. However it will inevitably take some time before the additional resources take full effect.

Rape

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of those convicted of rape were aged  (a) 10 to 15,  (b) 16 to 18,  (c) 19 to 25,  (d) 26 to 30 and  (e) over 30 years in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Data showing the number of defendants found guilty of rape, broken down by age group, in England and Wales from 1997 to 2006 are in the following table.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of defendants convicted of rape( 1)  at all courts, by age group, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 2, 3) 
			  Age  1997  1998  1999  2000( 4)  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 10-15 20 8 19 12 15 8 14 10 25 31 
			 16-18 45 21 39 37 31 28 26 28 66 63 
			 19-25 72 95 62 77 79 76 107 148 127 142 
			 26-30 72 72 64 66 54 73 67 77 65 72 
			 31 and over 308 375 377 313 315 363 369 381 411 446 
			 All ages 517 571 561 505 494 548 583 644 694 754 
			 (1) The following offences and statutes have been included in the above data; Rape of a female aged under 16. - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1 Rape of a female aged 16 or over. - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1 Rape of a male aged under 16. - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1 Rape of a male aged 16 or over - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1 Rape of a female child under 13 by a male - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S. 5 Rape of a male child under 13 by a male - Sexual Offences Act 2003 S. 5 (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Reoffenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders sentenced for violence against the person, sexual offences or robbery in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available had previous convictions for any of those types of offence.

David Hanson: The requested information is not available. The published statistics on the previous criminal history of offenders do not include information on the types of previous offences. However, we are currently reviewing our criminal history statistics and aim to publish information of this kind towards the end of 2008.

Sentencing

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of those offenders sentenced for violence against the person, sexual offences or robbery received  (a) a custodial sentence and  (b) a non-custodial sentence or other disposal in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The requested information is contained in table 1.2 of the Ministry of Justice statistical bulletin, Sentencing Statistics 2006, published 13 December 2007 and in the following table.
	The publication is available at the following web address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/sentencing-stats2006.pdf
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced( 1)  and proportion of total for the offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery, all courts, England and Wales, 1997 to 2006 
			  Number of persons and percentage of total 
			   Offence group  Total sentenced  Immediate custody  Proportion of total sentenced  Non-custodial sentence  Proportion of total sentenced 
			 1997 Violence against the person 34,537 10,231 29.6 24,306 70.4 
			  Sexual offences 4,468 2,514 56.3 1,954 43.7 
			  Robbery 5,597 4,008 71.6 1,589 28.4 
			 1998 Violence against the person 37,119 11,077 29.8 26,042 70.2 
			  Sexual offences 4,590 2,687 58.5 1,903 41.5 
			  Robbery 5,562 3,962 71.2 1,600 28.8 
			
			 1999 Violence against the person 35,983 11,038 30.7 24,945 69.3 
			  Sexual offences 4,310 2,615 60.7 1,695 39.3 
			  Robbery 5,652 4,085 72.3 1,567 27.7 
			
			 2000 Violence against the person 35,533 11,414 32.1 24,119 67.9 
			  Sexual offences 3,941 2,431 61.7 1,510 38.3 
			  Robbery 5,944 4,341 73.0 1,603 27.0 
			
			 2001 Violence against the person 35,436 11,389 32.1 24,047 67.9 
			  Sexual offences 4,037 2,400 59.5 1,637 40.5 
			  Robbery 6,846 4,775 69.7 2,071 30.3 
			
			 2002 Violence against the person 37,773 11,792 31.2 25,981 68.8 
			  Sexual offences 4,373 2,562 58.6 1,811 41.4 
			  Robbery 7,731 5,881 76.1 1,850 23.9 
			
			 2003 Violence against the person 38,031 11,468 30.2 26,563 69.8 
			  Sexual offences 4,333 2,505 57.8 1,828 42.2 
			  Robbery 7,339 5,150 70.2 2,189 29.8 
			
			 2004 Violence against the person 39,257 12,274 31.3 26,983 68.7 
			  Sexual offences 4,823 2,841 58.9 1,982 41.1 
			  Robbery 7,513 5,063 67.4 2,450 32.6 
			
			 2005 Violence against the person 40,754 12,842 31.5 27,912 68.5 
			  Sexual offences 4,747 2,701 56.9 2,046 43.1 
			  Robbery 7,139 4,407 61.7 2,732 38.3 
			
			 2006 Violence against the person 41,905 12,354 29.5 29,551 70.5 
			  Sexual offences 4,932 2,808 56.9 2,124 43.1 
			  Robbery 8,169 4,802 58.8 3,367 41.2 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.  Source OMS, Analytical Services.

Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute Fire Cadet scheme run in partnership with Cheshire fire service in  (a) promoting social responsibility in and  (b) providing positive role models for participants from the prison estate; and if he will make a statement on the future of this initiative within the Prison Service.

Maria Eagle: Local observations backed up in some areas by external evaluation demonstrate that the fire cadet programme offered a wide range of benefits and opportunities for young people in custody, including becoming more socially responsible under the tutorage of positive role models. The programme has been suspended following the loss of European Social Fund IMPACT project funding, but Thorn Cross will re-establish it if appropriate funding can be secured.

Voting Rights: Commonwealth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Commonwealth countries give UK citizens who are resident in those countries full voting rights.

Bridget Prentice: Following parliamentary questions on this subject in recent years we sought to obtain information from individual Commonwealth countries about the voting rights of British/Commonwealth citizens resident within their confines.
	We received a response rate of 57 per cent. and from this information we have established that within those countries there are no formal reciprocal or other arrangements in place concerning voting rights between Commonwealth countries (including the UK).
	As in the UK, it is for the individual Commonwealth countries concerned to decide on their own franchise arrangements and whether they wish to extend the franchise to other Commonwealth citizens resident in their countries, as the UK does to Commonwealth citizens lawfully resident here.
	We are aware that in some Commonwealth countries, resident British/Commonwealth citizens may be able to vote in elections there. However, this is linked to time resident in the country or a particular electoral area and is, in respect of some states, not by virtue of them being British/Commonwealth citizens but rather simply because they are lawfully resident non-nationals.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to answer Question  (a) 194386,  (b) 194387 and  (c) 194388 on legal aid, tabled on 13 March 2008.

Maria Eagle: I replied to the hon. Member for Eastleigh's questions on 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 64-65W. I apologise for the delay.

Young Offenders: Education

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) male and  (b) female offenders aged 10 to 17-years-old gained one or more (i) GCSE, (ii) AS Level, (iii) NVQ, (iv) BTEC and (v) other qualifications while in custody in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 May 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not hold central records on the achievements of all young people in custody. However, the development of the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from 31 July 2006, means that data on young offender achievement within Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) are now collected. The first full year of data are in the following tables:
	
		
			  All OLASS provisions  GCSE  GCSE  GCE, A/AS/AS level  GCE A/AS/AS level  GNVQ precursor (BTEC)  GNVQ precursor (BTEC)  NVQ  NVQ 
			 Gender Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 Learners achieving one or more specific aim type 38  13 5 
		
	
	
		
			  All OLASS provisions  OCN  OCN  Other  Other  Totals  Tota l 
			 Gender Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 Learners achieving one or more specific aim type 582 40 3,161 184 3,785 229 
		
	
	For many young people in custody, who are registered at learning providers in the community, their achievements will be attributed to the learning provider with which they are registered, rather than the custodial establishment's LSC provider. Therefore the LSC figures do not provide records of all of the academic achievements of all young people in YOIs.

Young Offenders: Education

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) male and  (b) female offenders aged 10 to 17 years began (i) GCSE, (ii) AS Level, (iii) A Level, (iv) NVQ, (v) BTEC and (vi) apprenticeship qualifications while in custody in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 20 May 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not hold central records on the enrolment of all young people in custody onto qualifications. However, the development of the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from 31 July 2006, means that data on young offender enrolment and achievement within Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) are now collected. The first full year of data are as in the following tables:
	
		
			  Count of learners enrolled by specific aim typeall OLASS provision for young people aged 10 to 17 
			  All OLASS Provision  GCSE  GC S E  GCE A/AS/AS level  GCE A/AS/A2 level  GNVQ precursor (BTEC)  GNVQ precursor (BTEC)  NVQ  NVQ 
			 Gender Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 Learners enrolled on specific aim type 94 1 12  1  12 15 
		
	
	
		
			  All OLASS Provision  OCN  OCN  Other  Other  Totals  Total 
			 Gender Male Female Male Female Male Female 
			 Learners enrolled on specific aim type 1,747 88 6,601 355 8,467 459 
		
	
	For many young people in custody, who are registered at learning providers in the Community, their enrolment will be attributed to the learning provider with which they are registered, rather than the custodial establishment's LSC provider. Therefore the LSC figures do not provide records of all of the academic enrolments of all young people in YOIs.

HEALTH

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Central records held by the Department and its agencies suggest that there have not been any apprenticeships or advanced apprenticeships in the last year.

Care Homes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people transferred from residential accommodation into supported living in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department started offsetting the carbon emissions resulting from our business air travel in 2006-07. In that year we paid a total of 9,094 to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). This represents an estimated total of 917.62 tonnes of CO(2)( )emitted from 3,620,190 business kilometres flown.
	The GCOF aims to fulfil the Government's commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central Government. It is available to all central Government Departments and provides a simple and cost effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09).
	The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd, who won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 certified emission reduction credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits, over three years from a range of Clean Development Mechanism projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions Plc, to whom EEA is the investment adviser.

Departmental Contracts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health  (a) how many and  (b) what value of contracts his Department had with (i) Delib and (ii) Team Rubber in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information on contracts in the format requested. To do so would attract disproportionate cost.

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions he has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The Secretary of State for Health has not visited Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1972W, on departmental ICT, how many of the missing or stolen  (a) laptops,  (b) mobile telephones and  (c) personal digital assistants have been replaced by his Department; and at what cost.

Ben Bradshaw: When a laptop, mobile phone or digital personal assistant is recorded lost or stolen and the reportee requests a replacement, a review is undertaken to determine whether a business need still exists before replacement is considered.
	In practically all cases a replacement device is provided but no separate record is maintained of the decision to replace or whether a new or reconditioned device was provided.
	The following table shows the replacement value recorded at the time the device was reported as lost or stolen. The table also includes details of losses for 2007-08.
	I regret that the answer given on 29 February, on the number of personal digital assistants (PDAs) reported lost or stolen in 2005-06 was incorrect due to typographical error. The figure is corrected in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Mobile phones  Value ()  PDAs  Value ()  Laptops  Value () 
			 2001-02 36 994.77 3 656.84 35 62,275.89 
			 2002-03 37 2,692.53 1 247.71 30 49,672.07 
			 2003-04 29 1,953.57 3 1,107.29 34 51,459.63 
			 2004-05 15 1,398.97 2 757.87 23 32,783.94 
			 2005-06 11 436.52 4 1,822.04 18 20,599.97 
			 2006-07 18 652.50 4 1,617.40 11 11,509.71 
			 2007-08 21 809.48 9 2,261.30 14 13,887.47 
			 Totals 167 8,929.34 26 8,470.45 165 242,188.68

Departmental Official Hospitality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many receptions he has hosted and funded in his capacity as Secretary of State in the last 12 months; which individuals and organisations  (a) were invited to and  (b) attended each reception; and what the cost was of each reception.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department will publish in due course an annual list providing information relating to official receptions hosted by Ministers in the Department during the course of the 2007-08 financial year.

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many respondents took part in each consultation held by his Department in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of responses to consultations conducted by the Department is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of responses to consultations varies greatly. For example, there were 34 responses to the consultation on 'Implementation of European Directive 2005/36/EC, for Health and Social Care professions in the United Kingdom'. There were more than 41,000 responses to the Your Health, Your care, Your say initiative.

Departmental Sick Leave

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of working days lost by his Department's staff was attributed to stress-related conditions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not record working days lost that can be attributed to stress-related conditions. For the year ended 31 December 2007, the percentage of working days lost covered by the broader absence reason 'Mental Health - including depression, anxiety and potential stress related problems' was 16.5 per cent.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many Foundation Year 1 and Year 2 training places are available for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; how many junior doctors have applied for those places; and how many of those are (i) UK residents, (ii) European Economic Area residents and (iii) non-European Economic Area residents;
	(2)  how many  (a) applications and  (b) places there are for junior doctors in Foundation Year 1 in 2008-09, broken down by specialty;
	(3)  whether all the 2008 Foundation Year candidates for  (a) genito-urinary medicine and  (b) sexually transmitted infection posts will be offered posts.

Ann Keen: The Foundation Programme is a two-year generic training programme for junior doctors consisting of foundation year 1 and foundation year 2. The programme comprises the training stage between medical school and specialist/general practice training. There are no specific specialist foundation programmes.
	For the 2008 national recruitment round, foundation year 1 posts were advertised as part of the two-year Foundation Programme. Successful applicants to the two-year Foundation Programme automatically move from foundation year 1 to foundation year 2 on achieving the required competencies.
	Stand-alone foundation year 2 posts are advertised and filled locally. Information on these posts is not collected centrally.
	Analysis of the latest figures for the 2008-09 national recruitment from the UK Foundation Programme Office, which runs the national recruitment to foundation programmes, indicates that there were 7,159 eligible applicants and 7,248 foundation programmes in the United Kingdom.
	Recruitment to 2009 foundation programmes has not begun. Data are not yet available on the number of programmes or applicants. Current planning indicates that there should be sufficient Foundation Programme 1 places to match the output from medical schools in England, plus around 5 per cent. of additional places.
	Information is not collected on the residency status of applicants to the Foundation Programme.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Foundation Year 1 training places there will be in each of the next 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the number of junior doctors who will apply for such places in each of the next 10 years.

Ann Keen: The number of foundation year 1 training places each year depends upon the need for trained doctors in the national health service. Planning assumes that all those successfully completing medical school in England will apply for a place on the Foundation Programme. Current planning should provide sufficient foundation year 1 places to match the output from medical schools in England, plus around 5 per cent. of additional places.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places for doctors in 2008-09 will be  (a) temporary and  (b) fixed term.

Ann Keen: Figures for the number of temporary training places in 2008-09 are not held centrally.
	So far, 886 out of 8,975 posts advertised this year are fixed term specialty training appointments.

Doctors: Career Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places for doctors in 2009-10 will be reserved for candidates not appointed in 2008-09.

Ann Keen: None.

Doctors: Pay

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether junior doctors' salaries will be banded in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Ann Keen: The banding multipliers are reviewed annually by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB). For 2008-09, the DDRB's recommendations were to maintain banding multipliers at current rates for another year. This was accepted by Government.
	For 2009-10 pay round, the DDRB will consider the evidence put forward by Government, unions and NHS Employers and then make recommendations to Government.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received treatment for heroin abuse in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) the South West and  (c) England in each year since 1979.

Dawn Primarolo: Only part of the data requested are available. The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse publish information from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) on the numbers of people in structured drug treatment.
	As shown in the following table NDTMS figures for the numbers of people in structured drug treatment for heroin misuse, in each drug action team partnership area and by region were only published for one year, 2003-04 and since 2004-05 data are only been published at a national level. Data for 2007-08 will be published this summer.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Cornwall 708 n/a n/a n/a 
			 South West 2,013 n/a n/a n/a 
			 England 78,931 80,274 108,000 117,305 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	Prior to 2003-04 the numbers of clients receiving drug treatment were based on estimates.

Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions he has visited Essex in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has visited Essex on three occasions in the last 12 months.
	Ministers in this Department have visited Essex on six occasions in the last 12 months (this includes the Secretary of State).
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'. Copies of the 'Ministerial Code' are available in the Library.

General Practitioners

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the datasets on road distance to a GP surgery, for lower layer super output areas, provided by the National Health Service Information Authority to assist the compilation of the index of deprivation for  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government (John Healey) on 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 313W.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which products have been assessed by the Rapid Review Panel since 2003; and which level of recommendation each one received.

Ann Keen: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) does not conduct evaluations of products but does review information and evidence provided in order to make recommendations to the Department.
	The RRP has undertaken 207 assessments since its first meeting and a full list of the products reviewed is available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebPageHPAwebAuto ListName/Page/1160994272839?p=1160994272839

Medical Equipment: Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total NHS spend on medical supplies and equipment has been in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information on medical supplies and equipment spend centrally. A decision on the procurement of medical supplies and equipment is made at a local level.
	Information on spend for clinical supplies and services which includes revenue spend on medical and surgical instruments but not capital spend is outlined in the following table.
	
		
			  Total clinical supplies and services 
			  000 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Primary care trust 36,315 147,624 349,273 358,768 404,854 448,830 475,581 
			 Strategic health authority 13,020 20,171 1,309 1,050 909 61 39 
			 Trust 3,829,447 4,144,664 4,454,694 4,966,842 4,546,683 4,618,645 4,567,305 
			 Total 3,878,782 4,312,459 4,805,276 5,326,660 4,952,446 5,067,536 5,042,925

National Child Health Immunisation Board

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the minutes of the 15 October 2007 meeting of the National Child Health Immunisation Board.

Dawn Primarolo: The minutes of 15 October 2007, National Child Health Immunisation Board have been placed in the Library.

NHS Information Centre: Grayling Political Strategy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments the NHS Information Centre made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrallydetails of individual sub-contractual payments are held by the Information Centre for health and social care.

NHS: Cleaning Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what products and treatments, used for infection control or cleaning purposes in NHS facilities, have been reviewed by the Rapid Review Panel since December 2005.

Ann Keen: Since December 2005 five products have demonstrated sufficient basic research and development, validation and recent in-use evaluations to enable the Rapid Review Panel (RRP) to make a recommendation to the Department that the product should be made available to national health service bodies. This is a recommendation one.
	Where appropriate products have been made available to the NHS by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) via the NHS Supply Chain and are contained in their product supply catalogue.
	The Department does not have full information on the use of the products reviewed by the RRP as infection control products do not have to be purchased through NHS Supply Chain. NHS trusts are free to choose which products to purchase and will maintain their own records.
	NHS PASA does not recommend particular products.

NHS: Cleaning Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the findings of the evaluation of room cleaning for MRSA using vaporised hydrogen peroxide decontamination technology along with wet disinfection; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department's project on the importance of environmental contamination, including on assessment of gaseous fumigation, including vaporisation products, has been extended and is now due to be complete by the end of August 2008.

NHS: Cleaning Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many submissions the Rapid Review Panel has received to its review of products to aid cleanliness and fight infections in the NHS; when each submission was received; and on which date the Rapid Review Panel reported its results for each submission in the last year for which information is available.

Ann Keen: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) has reviewed 37 products in three meetings since May 2007.
	The Department does not hold the data on when each product was received however, the deadline for application receipt is usually three weeks prior to the scheduled meeting date. The RRP has a limit on the number of products it can review during one meeting and so the number of reviews is capped, applications are reviewed on a first-come first-served basis. Late submissions are placed on the agenda for the next available meeting.
	The RRP met on 19 June 2007, 25 September 2007 and 6 December 2007 and reports were released to the public on 10 July 2007, 25 October and 8 January 2008.

NHS: Drugs

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will establish a separate medicines appraisal system for ultra-orphan drugs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 14 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 605-6W, on NHS: drugs, on what grounds the decision not to establish a separate appraisal system for ultra-orphan drugs was made; and whether this decision has been reviewed in 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: A separate appraisal system for ultra orphan drugs was not established as it was felt that national commissioning was a more appropriate route for ensuring consistent availability of certain ultra orphan drugs for rare genetic disorders. I have no plans at present to establish such a system. This position is kept under review in the context of other developments relating to policy on new drugs but has not been the subject of a specific review exercise in 2008.

NHS: Finance

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much Mid Essex primary care trust received per capita in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average level of per capita funding for primary care trusts in England was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  which primary care trusts received  (a) the highest and  (b) the lowest level of per capita funding in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The latest year for which data are available is 2008-09. Table 1 as follows provides the revenue allocation per head of unweighted population made to Mid Essex primary care trust (PCT) for 2008-09, and it also includes the average level of funding per capita for PCTs in England for the same period.
	Table 2 as follows shows the PCTs receiving the highest and the lowest level of funding per capita in 2008-09.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   2008-09 allocation per head () 
			 Mid Essex PCT 1,187 
			 England average 1,449 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  PCT  2008-09 allocation per head  ()  Rank of allocation per head 
			 Islington PCT 2,066 Highest allocation 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 1,178 Lowest allocation

NHS: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to be spent per head of population to primary care trusts in  (a) England,  (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and  (c) North Yorkshire and York primary care trust area for 2008-09; what account is taken of the (i) rurality and (ii) sparsity of population in setting the spending per head of population in York and North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The following provides the revenue allocation per head of unweighted population made to England, Yorkshire and the Humberside strategic health authority (SHA), and North Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) for 2008-09.
	
		
			   2008-09 allocation per head () 
			 England average 1,449 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 1,452 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 1,269 
		
	
	The funding formula introduced in 2003-04 and used in the 2008-09 PCT revenue allocations, provides the best available measure of health need in all areas. In calculating health need in rural areas it takes account of the effects of access, transport and poverty.
	The development of the formula is continuously overseen by the Advisory Committee on resource allocation (ACRA). ACRA is an independent body made up of national health service managers, academics and general practitioners. ACRA has looked at the issue of rurality on many occasions and has considered rural issues as part of its current work programme, which is in place to support revenue allocations to PCTs post 2008-09.
	The aim is to announce the outcome of ACRA's review of the formula alongside revenue allocations to PCTs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 before the summer recess.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 9th May 2008,  Official Report, column 1260W, on the NHS: information and communications technology, whether the reset process can be used to increase the value of his Department's supplier contract with Fujitsu.

Ben Bradshaw: The contract reset process allows for the option of agreeing enhancements to existing services or functionality that need to be supported by a business case and to be approved through normal governance processes. Such changes would be properly reflected in the total contract value.

NHS: Infectious Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations  (a) his Department and  (b) the National Patient Safety Agency has made to the NHS on hand infection control against the spread of norovirus.

Ann Keen: The Department advice is to follow existing professional guidance(1,2) which advocates enhanced handwashing.
	The National Patient Safety Agency has ongoing communications with the national health service about hand infection control via the cleanyourhands campaign. The campaign implementation guidance and materials advocate using soap and water in situations where vomiting and diarrhoea are prevalent, for example norovirus and Clostridium difficile cases, or when hands are visibly soiled.
	 Sources:
	(1) The Journal of Hospital Infectionepic2: National Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections in NHS Hospitals in England. www.epic.tvu.ac.uk/PDF%20Files/epic2/epic2-final.pdf
	(2) Preventing person-to-person spread following gastrointestinal infections: guidelines for public health physicians and environmental health officers Prepared by a Working Group of the former PHLS Advisory Committee on Gastrointestinal Infections Communicable Disease and Public Health 2004; 7 (4): 362. www.hpa.org.uk/cdph/issues/CDPHvol7/No4/guidelines2_ 4_04.pdf

NHS: Infectious Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with foreign counterparts on methods for tackling MRSA.

Ann Keen: Our strategy on healthcare associated infection Clean, safe care is based on the best available evidence from both the United Kingdom and elsewhere. To achieve this departmental officials have regular contact with experts both here and abroad. For example Professor Duerden, the Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control was one of several UK and European experts speaking about the control of methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus at the Society of General Microbiology international conference in April 2008.

NHS: Infectious Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many products were recommended to his Department by the Rapid Review Panel for  (a) development for use in the NHS and  (b) for trial in an NHS clinical setting in the last year for which information is available.

Ann Keen: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) has reviewed 37 products in three meetings since May 2007.
	Four products have demonstrated sufficient basic research and development, validation and recent in-use evaluations to enable the RRP to make a recommendation to the Department that the product should be made available to national health service bodies. This is a recommendation one.
	Four products have been awarded a recommendation two stating that basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in use evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting. However, it is not within the remit of the RRP to clinically evaluate or undertake the evaluation of products within the NHS.

NHS: Infectious Diseases

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances a product or treatment may bypass a Rapid Review Panel assessment; and which  (a) products and  (b) treatments did so in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Ann Keen: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) was convened by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) at the request of the Department. The RRP's role, as defined by the HPA and the Department, is
	'to provide a prompt assessment of new and novel equipment, materials and other products or protocols that may be of value to the national health service in improving hospital infection control and reducing hospital acquired infections'.
	Products do not bypass the RRP although some may fall outside the remit of the RRP.

NHS: Insurance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was recovered by hospitals from insurers towards the cost of treatment of persons injured in road accidents in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Amounts recovered under the national health service injury cost recovery (ICR) schemes from 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			   Total () 
			 2003-04 105,654,936 
			 2004-05 117,504,738 
			 2005-06 121,500,570 
			 2006-07(1) 128,187,681 
			 2007-08(1) 137,041,544 
			 (1) The ICR scheme was expanded on 29 January 2007 to include all successful personal injury claims not just those arising from road traffic accidents. Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 include all recoveries under the expanded scheme.

NHS: Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time was for a claim for clinical negligence against his Department to be resolved in  (a) the latest period for which figures are available and  (b) 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: In 2007-08, the average time for the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) to resolve a claim was 1.50 years for claims under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) and 5.36 years for claims under the Existing Liabilities Scheme (ELS) or the Ex-Regional Health Authorities Scheme (Ex-RHA).
	Data for 1997-98 are not available as the NHSLA did not record date of settlement on their database until July 2000. The earliest year for which data can be provided for comparison is 2001-02, where the average time for the NHSLA to resolve a claim under CNST was 1.39 years and 3.67 years for ELS/Ex-RHA.

NHS: Private Sector

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of contracts in the NHS were awarded to non-British companies in each of the last five years; and what the value of these contracts was.

Ben Bradshaw: The proportion of contracts in the national health service given to non-British companies and the total value of these contracts is not held centrally.

NHS: Students

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS student bursaries have been granted in the last five years; how many were granted to students from outside the EU; and how many people in receipt of such grants are working within the NHS.

Ann Keen: The number of national health service bursary holders for the academic years 2002 to 2007 (to date) are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 78,958 
			 2003 84,467 
			 2004 88,577 
			 2005 91,597 
			 2006 92,562 
			 2007 87,800 
			  Source: National Health Service Business Services Authority Student Bursaries Unit. 
		
	
	Information about bursaries granted to students outside the European Union is not available. However, in order to be eligible for NHS bursary support, students offered a place on a NHS commissioned programme must be able to satisfy requirements of residency within the United Kingdom.
	Information about how many people in receipt of NHS bursary awards are working in the NHS is not available.

NHS: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 22nd March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1141-2W, on NHS: working hours, what monitoring of NHS readiness his Department has undertaken; and if he will place in the Library the results of such monitoring;
	(2)  what percentage of junior doctors worked a  (a) 48 hour week,  (b) 48 to 52 hour week,  (c) 52 to 58 hour week and  (d) 58 to 62 hour week in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: European working time directive (EWTD) monitoring information is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of local employers to implement EWTD as part of their health and safety obligations.
	Under the new deal contract for doctors in training, working hours monitoring information is collected by NHS Employers. The latest figures can be accessed on their website via www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/pay-conditions-467.cfm. The new deal monitoring information provides a proxy to help the national health service with EWTD planning.

Nutrition: Health Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS weight management programmes was in each primary care trust in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: It is up to primary care trusts (PCTs) to identify local priorities, with their partners, and to commission services accordingly. Figures on spend by PCTs on weight management programmes have not been collated centrally over the last three years so this information is not available. We have provided new money to PCTs from 2008-09 to take action on obesity as part of the overall allocations to the national health service. Levels of expenditure on weight management programmes will remain a matter for local areas.

Patient Choice Schemes

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the Choose and Book system in South East London.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the effectiveness of the operation of choose and book in South East London. If required, this would be the responsibility of the local primary care trusts. In March 2008, choose and book utilisation in South East London was 33 per cent., compared with a London average of 39 per cent. and a national average of 45 per cent.
	South East London includes Bromley, Greenwich Teaching, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Bexley primary care trusts.

Solvents: Misuse

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of incidents of volatile substance abuse arising from the sale of butane cigarette lighter fuel in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of 'incidents' of volatile substance abuse arising from the sale of butane cigarette lighter fuel is not collected centrally. However, the number of deaths associated with cigarette lighter refills are available and are provided as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1971-1995 521 
			 1996 42 
			 1997 47 
			 1998 43 
			 1999 43 
			 2000 34 
			 2001 42 
			 2002 37 
			 2003 29 
			 2004 25 
			 2005 16 
			  Source: Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971-2005, St George's, University of London.

HOME DEPARTMENT

2 Marsham Street: Repairs and Maintenance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the refurbishment, repair and redecoration of 2 Marsham Street in the last two years.

Jacqui Smith: Refurbishment, repair and redecoration costs for 2 Marsham street over the past two years were not met directly as this responsibility was allocated to the supplier under the PFI contract for its design, construction and operation on behalf of the Department. These costs are therefore covered by the annual PFI charge and are not held by the Department.

Alcohol Disorder Zones

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the establishment of alcohol disorder zones; and when such zones are planned to become operational.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has not received any recent formal representations concerning alcohol disorder zones. The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and we expect the regulations will be commenced in June 2008.
	A copy of the updated guidance can be found on the Home Office website using the following link:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/alcohol-disorder-zone-guidance

Alcohol Disorder Zones

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the introduction of alcohol disorder zones; and if she will make a statement.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable for the commencement of alcohol disorder zones is.

Vernon Coaker: The regulations in relation to alcohol disorder zones (ADZs) have passed through both Houses of Parliament, and we expect that they will be commenced in June 2008.
	The updated guidance for ADZs is available on the Home Office website using the following link:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/alcohol-disorder-zone-guidance

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the Prime Minister's comments on tackling binge drinking at her press conference on 28 January, what powers are available to local authorities to charge establishments selling alcohol to pay for additional policing.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 1 February 2008
	Sections 15 to 20 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 give local authorities the power to designate, with the consent of the police, a locality as an alcohol disorder zone (ADZ) where there is a problem with alcohol-related nuisance and disorder. Local authorities will have the power to impose charges on holders of premises licences allowing the sale by retail of alcohol and on holders of club premises certificates allowing the supply of alcohol to members and their guests.
	The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and are expected to be commenced in June 2008. A copy of the updated guidance can be found on the Home Office website using the link below:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/alcohol-disorder-zone-guidance

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures her Department holds on levels of binge drinking among people aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 24 and  (c) over 24 years.

Vernon Coaker: There is no universally agreed definition of binge drinking, but the term has generally been used to describe a pattern of drinking that involves drinking alcohol to excess over a short period of time.
	The Home Office published a study in 2006 (Underage drinking: findings from the 2004 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey Matthews et al (2006) Home Office Findings 277) to explore the prevalence and nature of underage drinking and the relationship between alcohol consumption and offending among young people (10 to 17-years-old). The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/r277.pdf
	The Home Office also published a study in 2005 (Findings from the 2003 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey: alcohol related crime and disorder, Matthews, S. and Richardson, A. (2005) Home Office Findings 261) which looked at the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption and offending by 18 to 24-year-olds. This study does include some information on alcohol consumption relating to older age groups 25 to 25 and 36 to 65-years-old. The report can be found here:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r261.pdf

Antisocial Behaviour

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government have taken to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour offenders;
	(2)  what recent steps the Government has taken to work with local authorities to reduce antisocial behaviour.

Vernon Coaker: Over the past 10 years this Government have introduced a wide range of tools and powers to tackle antisocial behaviour which are being used by practitioners to bring relief to communities across the country.
	On 8 May we announced a number of new measures to tackle antisocial behaviour by the persistent minority who fail to respond to early interventions as identified by the National Audit Office. These are:
	A crackdown on the most troublesome offenders to expose wider criminal behaviour, including benefit fraud, television license evasion, vehicle tax and insurance dodging and non-payment of council tax. Their antisocial behaviour will be the trigger for further investigation to find out if their car tax is up to date, or if they have a TV license, or pay their council tax. This will be done by spreading good practice such as that adopted by Essex police in Operation Leopard.
	A joint review by the Home Office and the Department for Transport to look at ways to tackle ASB on public transport. We will consult the public, drivers and other transport staff on their views.
	A new national Action Squad of ASB experts who will troubleshoot across the country to focus on targeting areas that are not using the antisocial behaviour measures available to them or where the perception of ASB is low. The public must not suffer needlessly while available remedies go unused. This is backed by 255,000 of new funding.
	We have recently introduced measures in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 to close premises where there is serious and persistent antisocial behaviour which are due to be implemented next year. We have also issued new guidance on how to use the full range of the tools and powers available and to better protect victims and witnesses who take a stand against antisocial behaviour.
	The Home Office works with local areas through regional Government offices providing funding through the Area-Based Grant. We also delivered 16 regional workshops nationally to help local practitioners make the best use of the available tools and powers. We will continue to encourage and support local areas in this way.

Armed Forces: USA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Visiting Forces Act 1952 was invoked to prevent prosecution of US military personnel under UK law in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
	The Visiting Forces Act 1952 (the Act) was passed to incorporate the provisions of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 into United Kingdom law. The Act lays down a formula to decide whether the military authorities of the visiting force or the UK authorities should have the primary right to bring a prosecution. The provisions of the Act therefore do not prevent a prosecution under the UK law, but ensure that an individual only faces charges under one criminal jurisdiction.

Children: Protection

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of suspected child exploitation were received by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) from My Space via the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the last 12 months; and what the length of time between each report being filed by a UK customer and its receipt by CEOP in each case was.

Vernon Coaker: As far as the Home Office is aware, My Space as a US based company comply with US law and regulations on reporting child abuse content to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). As we understand it this does not extend to contact offences such as grooming. CEOP and NCMEC have a co-operative relationship through the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) and CEOP can receive reports on child abuse images from them. In the last reporting year CEOP have received nine reports of child abuse images from NCMEC. We do not hold any information on the original date that the matter was reported to My Space, and so cannot comment on any possible time lapse in that part of the process.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office participates in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund which is co-ordinated by DEFRA. This ensures the Department offsets carbon dioxide emissions from its official air travel. Figures for 2006-07 (the only year for which data have been published) are set out as follows. These data covers some business areas that are now part of Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Includes:  Cost () 
			 Core HO, Identity and Passport Service, and UK Borders Agency and Forensic Science Service 38,993.24

Departmental Voluntary Work

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to encourage volunteering among its employees in the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office has long recognised that staff who undertake voluntary work not only benefit the communities in which they live and work, but also bring back valuable skills and experience into the workplace. The Home Office also recognises that volunteering has an important part to play in the personal development of staff.
	During 2005, the year of the volunteer, the Home Office worked with community service volunteers (CSV) and Volunteering England to promote employee volunteering both widely and among its own staff. This involved a series of talks and presentations from CSV and providing advice to match staff to suitable volunteering opportunities, both individually and in teams.
	Following this, the Home Office refreshed and developed its employee volunteering strategy, which now includes:
	Allowing up to five days' paid leave (or the equivalent in hours) to enable staff to undertake volunteering in work time. This can be done on an individual basis or as part of a team;
	Allowing additional paid leave to enable staff to take part in volunteering in the public service, such as carrying out school governor duties, magistrate duties, etc;
	Recognising the importance of employee volunteering by encouraging managers to include it as a personal development activity in the annual staff appraisal system;
	Regularly inviting charities and volunteering organisations into Home Office buildings to hold seminars or set up stands with promotional materials;
	Having a dedicated volunteering manager to help staff identify suitable volunteering opportunities;
	Promoting volunteering opportunities through features in staff magazines and on the Home Office staff intranet sites;
	Ensuring that all new members of staff are made aware of volunteering opportunities;
	Maintaining active membership of Westminster Time and Talents, an initiative which matches volunteers with opportunities in the Westminster area;
	Funding employees to participate in the Prince's Trust Team programme, both as team leaders and team members;
	Running an annual programme of up to 50 three to six month funded secondments to the voluntary sector and encouraging staff to maintain volunteering links with those charities at the end of the secondment;
	Encouraging staff to take part in two seasonal volunteering activities: Jeans for Genes day and the Westminster City Challenge.

Deportation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempts to deport people to  (a) Libya,  (b) Algeria and  (c) Jordan have failed in the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Details of total removals to Algeria, Jordan and Libya between 2004 and 2007, the only period for which we have access to management information, are in the following table:
	
		
			  Destination  Number of removals 
			   2004  2005  2006( 1)  2007( 1) 
			 Total removals(2) to Algeria 265 325 390 400 
			 Refused entry at port and subsequently removed(3, 4) 45 70 70 80 
			 Removed as a result of enforcement action and voluntary departures(5) 185 215 210 280 
			 Left under AVR programmes 35 45 110 40 
			  
			 Total removals(2) to Jordan 50 60 90 115 
			 Refused entry at port and subsequently removed(3, 4) 25 15 25 25 
			 Removed as a result of enforcement action and voluntary departures(4) 20 35 60 70 
			 Left under AVR programmes 10 5 10 20 
			  
			 Total removals(2) to Libya 50 90 110 140 
			 Refused entry at port and subsequently removed(3, 4) 15 35 35 35 
			 Removed as a result of enforcement action and voluntary departures(5) 30 55 60 90 
			 Left under AVR programmes(6) (7) (7) 15 10 
			 (1) Provisional. (2) Includes enforced removals, persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (3) Persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls). (4) Includes removals which have been performed by Immigration Officers at ports using enforcement powers. (5) Established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (6) Includes persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them and those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (7) Figures rounded to the nearest five ( = 0, * = one or 2). Figures may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.  Notes: 1. Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. 2. May include some cases where enforcement action had been initiated.

Driving Offences

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with the police and the Association of Chief Police Officers on proposals for a new offence of aggravated failure to stop for the police.

Vernon Coaker: The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has written on this issue to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and it has been raised informally with me by the Head of Uniformed Operations for the Association of Chief Police Officers. Having considered the proposals very carefully I am not persuaded that such an offence is needed in addition to the powers already available to the police.

Drugs: Imports

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the countries of origin of illegal drugs imported into the UK were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007, giving the percentage of illegal imports from each.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 14 May 2008
	For 1997, the NCIS UK Threat Assessment showed that Spain represented the traditional route for cocaine entering Europe, because of the extensive cultural links with South America; and other routes through Africa and East Europea and Eurasia were becoming more important (no percentages are available). Interpol estimated that 80-90 per cent. of heroin trafficked to Western Europe originated from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. 60-80 per cent. of cannabis resin supplied to Western Europe originated from Morocco.
	For 2007, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) estimates that 80-85 per cent. of the cocaine being trafficked to the UK originated in Colombia. The remaining 15-20 per cent. was believed to have originated from Peru/Bolivia/Ecuador. Almost all the opium used to manufacture heroin imported into the UK originated in Afghanistan; with the actual manufacture of heroin from opium base taking place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. (Data are not held on the respective percentages for manufacture.) The majority of herbal cannabis originated in Morocco and South East Asia; skunk cannabis in the Netherlands; and cannabis resin in Jamaica and parts of Africa (no percentages are available).
	Amphetamines originated from a variety of European countries, primarily the Netherlands and Belgium (no percentages are available).

Entry Clearances: Criminal Records

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those with  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary visas to reside in the UK have a criminal record.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 8 May 2008
	The requested information can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many multiple entry visitor visas were issued to citizens of Pakistan in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Only since October 2000 have visit visas been valid for multiple entries into the UK. The total number of visit visas issued by our high commission in Islamabad and our deputy high commission in Karachi in each year since 2001 is shown as follows. Figures are not available at present for 2006-07.
	
		
			   Number of visit visas issued 
			 2001-02 67,620 
			 2002-03 42,041 
			 2003-04 71,122 
			 2004-05 80,999 
			 2005-06 80,601 
			  Source: Entry Clearance Annual Statistics

Forensic Science Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation of the options for the future of the Forensic Science Service has been undertaken; who was commissioned to undertake the evaluation; when it was commissioned; what the estimated cost was; and if she will place in the Library a synopsis of the evaluation report.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 13 May 2008
	 We have yet to reach a decision on the future status of the Forensic Science Service Ltd. We are currently considering advice based upon contributions from a number of sources, including a review commissioned and paid for from McKinseys by the FSS board last autumn. The review on shaping the future market of forensic science services, while helpful, was specifically aimed at the broader context and did not consider status options for the FSS itself. We intend to publish soon plans for the future delivery of forensic science to the Criminal Justice System which will include a decision on the future status of the Forensic Science Service.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on changes to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004 which may be required to enable the Government to implement the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office has no record of representations being received on this particular issue. Consideration of whether this Act is compatible with the convention was undertaken as part of our wider assessment of the UK's compliance and it was judged that the legislation was already compliant and that no changes were required.

Identity Cards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the identity card will hold details of eligibility for NHS care;
	(2)  what links she has considered between the identity card programme and the European Health Insurance Card.

Meg Hillier: Eligibility for NHS care will not be held on identity cards and there will be no linkage with the European Health Insurance Card.

Immigration: Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spouses of UK citizens from Pakistan left the marital home within two years and  (a) were deported,  (b) were granted leave to remain and  (c) are believed still to be in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The requested information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immobilisation of Vehicles: Scotland

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has commissioned research into the effect of banning wheelclamping on private land in Scotland.

Vernon Coaker: The position in Scotland is determined by case law which has determined that wheel-clamping on private land amounted to theft and the demand of a release fee amounted to extortion under Scottish law.
	Neither the Home Office nor the Scottish Executive have commissioned research into wheel-clamping on private land in Scotland.

Licensed Premises: Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1302W, on licensed premises: non-domestic rates, what estimate her Department has made of the maximum charge in cash terms that can be levied per year on a business in an alcohol disorder zone; and what the commencement date is for councils to be able to designate and implement such zones.

Vernon Coaker: There is no maximum charge that can be levied on a business in respect of the charges relating to an alcohol disorder zone. The charging mechanism is explained fully in the updated guidance for ADZs which can be accessed via the Home Office website using the following link:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/alcohol-disorder-zone-guidance
	The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and we expect that they will be commenced in June 2008.

Licensing

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on supermarkets which sell alcoholic liquor and their obligations under the implementation of alcohol action zones; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 28 January 2008
	Supermarkets which sell alcoholic liquor are not excluded from the obligations imposed by an alcohol disorder zone (ADZ). However, local authorities will need to consider, on a case by case basis, whether a supermarket or other retail outlet passes both the principal use test and the patronage test.
	The ADZ regulations have passed through both Houses of Parliament and we expect commencement to take place in June 2008. A copy of the updated guidance can be found on the Home Office website using the following link:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/alcohol-disorder-zone-guidance

Parking Offences: West Sussex

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parking tickets were issued by police community support officers in  (a) Adur District Council,  (b) Arun District Council,  (c) Chichester District Council,  (d) Crawley Borough Council,  (e) Hastings Borough Council,  (f) Horsham District Council,  (g) Lewes District Council,  (h) Mid Sussex District Council,  (i) Rother District Council,  (j) Wealden District Council and  (k) Worthing Borough Council (i) between January and June 2007, (ii) between July and December 2007 and (iii) since January 2008.

Vernon Coaker: Fixed penalties for parking offences can be issued by police officers and traffic wardens. Police community support officers (PCSOs) can only issue parking tickets if they have been separately appointed as traffic wardens and wear the prescribed uniform for someone who is both a PCSO and a traffic warden. The number of parking tickets issued in Sussex by PCSOs appointed as traffic wardens is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police: Information and Communications Technology

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines her Department has issued to police forces on their use of common IT software programmes to facilitate information sharing; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 April 2008
	In July 2006, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Home Office jointly published the Information Systems Strategy for the Police Service (ISS4PS). The strategy advises police forces and their authorities, as well as organisations that deliver national projects and services to the police service, to use the ISS4PS as a reference framework to plan information and communications technology services. This includes the development and implementation of systems in accordance with agreed standards, including those for software.
	As part of the work it is doing to deliver a Police National Database, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) IMPACT Programme is producing data quality standards to ensure that force information can be shared in a consistent and compatible manner. The responsibility for the management, and use of information within the police service, rests with the chief officer of the police force that owns the information. The Management of Police Information (MoPI) Statutory Code of Practice issued to forces in November 2005 sets out the key principles and processes for the management of police information. Guidance was issued on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in 2006 to accompany the Code and the NPIA is helping forces implement that guidance in all forces by 2010 as part of the IMPACT programme.

Police: Information and Communications Technology

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what IT software programmes are used by each police force to deal with  (a) enforcement of licensing laws,  (b) vehicle crime and  (c) firearms crime.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 April 2008
	 The day to day management of a force is the responsibility of the chief constable and their police authority. Records of software products that are used in force to deal with  (a) enforcement of licensing laws,  (b) vehicle crime and  (c) firearms crime are not held centrally.

Road Traffic Offences: Cycling

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalties were issued to cyclists who contravened road safety laws in  (a) England and  (b) Manchester Central constituency in the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 May 2008
	This information is not collected centrally.

Road Traffic: Census

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason police officers are conducting a traffic census on Rochester Row and Warwick Way, London SW1 during May 2008; what the census is seeking to achieve; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 May 2008
	 I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the traffic census in Rochester Row and in Warwick Way was conducted on 14 May 2008 not by police officers but by agents acting on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).
	This was part of a continuing traffic survey held at multiple sites over the week commencing 12 May 2008. Police officers were present to stop vehicles and direct their drivers to the survey points.
	The information collected will help in the future planning process and policy development by enabling TfL to assess such issues as the impact of the central London congesting charging scheme on traffic levels, the demand for car parks in central London, the effects of road works on traffic flow and the effects of fuel cost increases on traffic levels.

Terrorism

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department work on the  (a) Pursue,  (b) Protect and (c) Prepare strands of the Contest counter-terrorism strategy.

Jacqui Smith: The Pursue, Protect and Prepare strands of the Government's strategy for counter-terrorism are dealt with in the Home Office by the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT). The Home Office also works with other Government Departments and agencies on these strands. Currently: 41 full-time equivalent Home Office staff are engaged directly on Pursue; 41.5 full-time equivalent Home Office staff are engaged directly on Protect; and, 34.6 full-time equivalent Home Office staff are engaged directly on Prepare. These numbers are subject to change in accordance with overall priorities. In addition, there are other members of staff in the Home Office who contribute to these strands of work as part of their wider responsibilities for counter-terrorism.

Terrorism

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) arrested and  (b) charged over the failed car bomb attacks on London and Glasgow in June 2007.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 8 May 2008
	Six individuals were arrested in the UK in relation to the failed car bomb attacks on London and Glasgow in June 2007. Of the six, three individuals were charged and three individuals were released without charge.

Unfair Practices: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the City of London Police on illegal share sales by boiler room operations; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: I visited the City of London Police Economic Crime Department in July last year to discuss a number of fraud related issues, including their work on boiler room fraud.
	The Home Office provides the City of London Police with additional funding over and above police grant each year to enable the force to operate as a lead force for investigating serious and complex fraud not confined to the Square Mile. This extra funding has enabled City to expand its Economic Crime Department and, among other things, establish Operation Archway, the national intelligence reporting system for boiler room fraud. Operation Archway has worked closely with other agencies, including police forces in this country and abroad, and a number of arrests have been made. Home Office officials are in regular contact with City of London police officers and receive regular updates about Operation Archway.

Written Questions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will answer question 182216, tabled by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden on 22 January 2008, on websites shut down for terrorism-related reasons; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to the right hon. Gentleman on 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1326W. My Department makes every effort to answer all parliamentary questions within the timescales set by the House however this is not always possible.

Written Questions

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will answer question 183418, tabled by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden on 28 January 2008, on Project Contest; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to the right hon. Gentleman on 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1949W. My Department makes every effort to answer all parliamentary questions within the timescales set by the House however this is not always possible.